THE NEW ROLL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1045, 7 February 1911, Page 4

THE NEW ROLL.

CRITICISM AND REPLY, Conversing yesterday with a Dominion reporter, Mr. E. J. Carey (president of tho Trades Council) criticised adversely tho methods followed in the late purging of tlio Wellington municipal roll. This had been dona in such a way, Mr. Carey contended, that tho names of citizens who had dono everything in their power to securo electoral privileges had been struck off tho roll. The substance of Mr. Carey's complaint was that electors enrolled after the last general election In 1909 had been struck oft', although they had done everything they could to preserve. their privilege by voting at the by-elcction in 1910.

"Suppose," said Mr. Carey, in stating a case, "that I had arrived in New Zealand in May, 1909. I wait till May, 1910, get on the roll, voto at the by-election in 1910, and yet am struck off tho roll. It amounts-to penalising, a man for not doing something that he cannot do." The complaint above stated was submitted by a reporter to ill'. J. 11. Palmer (Town Clerk), who declared unhesitatingly that it lacked foundation.

"Only the roll which was used at tho j last general election, in 1909, has been purged," said Mr. Palmer. "All subsequent supplementary rolls have been embodied in tho new main roll, but even this does not exonerate any residential elector from tho duty and privilege of seeing that his namo is on the roll." A ratepayer, Mr. Palmer remarked, is taken care of to a very great extent, by reason,,6fi hifi/ihnnio'ity?ing on the valuation roll." But even in this case, where proport.v ■-has changed hands, the purchaser should see to it personally that his namo is entered as a ratepayer. It behoved all and sundry, Mr. Palmer concluded, to- make use of the opnortuuity given them, and inspect tho roll.