ENROLLING THE ELECTORS. PROCEDURE EXPLAINED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 65, 14 September 1911, Page 2

ENROLLING THE ELECTORS. PROCEDURE EXPLAINED.

Replying to a question by Sir. \V,. H. Field, the Prime Minister yesterday explained the steps that are being taken to place electors on the rolls. Under the provision of the Legislature Amendment Act, he said, registrars are at present taking steps to purge the rolls of all those whom they have reason to believe have ceased to reside in their respective districts. In twenty-two city and adjoining electorates the electoral census was taken by means of a householder's schedule, which was left .it every household in tlia electorate by an enrolment officer, and afterwards collected. The names on these schedule* have been carefully compared with tho existing_ roll, and all those names thereon which could not bs found on the schedule* are being objected to under section 15 (3). of the legislature Amendment Act, 1910, by registered letter, on the grounds that the electors have ceased to reside in the. district. At the same ( tim© they are being advised that unle£6 notice of appeal (form of which is an* neXed to the notice of objection, with free addressed envelope, for reply) is signed and retained within a time stated (being not less than seven days) the elector's name will bo removed from the roll. If the notice of appeal is not forthcoming within the prescribed time, or the registered electoral-notice letter is returned through the post, the elector's name will be removed frorft. the Toll, Unless, of course, the registrar receives in the meantime advice to warrant him in retaining the name upon the roll. In country electorates the householder's schedule was not used, but a house-to-house canvass by enrolment officers was carried out, ana notices of objection, to names being retained upon t'hti roll have been issued by the registrars, based upon the reports ot the enrolment officers as well as upon information received from postmasters, police, and other sources. Notices of objection tkte only being issued to persons whom the registrar has good reason to believe have left the district. It is th& registrar's duty under the statute to assure himself of the right of every person* ehTolled to have hi* name retained upon the roll, and in endeavouring to do thi3 he has to be guided by the reports of the enrolment offieere, postmasters, aed police employed by him. Form (4) (Notice of Objection by Registrar) of the Schedule to the Legislature Amendment Act; 1910, was so designed as to enableany elector? ' objected to upon incorrect information. to promptly (Sign and return to the registrar the annexed notice of appeal against the proposed removal of their nanies from the roll. The continuous movement of population renders absolutely necessary the Active step« taken bj aregistrar* tc ascertain and satisfy themselves of the. light of every person on the roll to remain there. Attention is alfio directed to subsection (2) of sectioft 60 of the Legislature Act, 1908, which provides that the registrar, on being satisfied that the nam© of any person has been removed from the roll by mistake or through false information, may restore the flame of such person to the Toll up to within ten days of polling -day. iTHE MAORI. ~\ ftlS PAST AND PRESENT. Some interesting sidelights on the story of the Maori and his relation to modern European civilisation were cast by Speakers at the Maori entertainment given at the V.M.C.A, last evening in aid of tho Victoria School for Maori girls. Incidentally come excellent examples of 'Maori song and', dance were shown by members of the Young Maori Patty, led by 'the Hoji. A. T. Ngata. The ringing of "Home, Sweet Home" by Mrs^ W. Pitt "in Maori was one of the most en^oyatte items in a- plea^a-nt and instructive entertainment. Mr. Ngata- ppoke of tho past of the Maori, X)r. R. Raiigihiroa. reviewed the present, but Sir Jamed Carroll, who was to have dealt with the future, \vas unable to attend on. account of his Parliamentary ditties. Mr. Ngata described how the ancient Mabri 6ystcnl of life, before th& pakeha. came, was at least sufficient in itself to keep the finest of the Polynesian races in perfect health and strength, The martial exercises practised from childhood, the wholesome air of hill-top palis, maintained the vigour of the race. Mr. Ngata described the building of a largo canoe,' introducing with his party th£ appropriate chanteys that relieved tho hard mdnotony of the work and inspired the Workers. Dr. Buck showed how the introduction of European civilisation had worked havoc among a" people then in the neolithic age. From healthy hill-tops the palls had been, brought down to the insalubrious levels by rivers and swamps, and where hand-to-hand combat killed tens, the bullet of the pakeha carried of! its thousands. Disease and death took off half the population. Now there were signs of a revival. The Maori schools were helping greatly, and in matters of land the Maori was beginning to understand that he must ta-ke up the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. Dr. Buck thought that Plunket nuraee would help to stem tho infantile mortality among tfhe Maoris. fie hoped and trusted that the Maori would develop into a farming race hand-itl-liand with the European. (Applause,) Mr. H. N. Holmes spoke briefly on the future of the Maori, and thanked those present for their efforts during tho evening, PORT NICHOLSON YACHT CLUB The Port Nicholson Yacht Club hold its twenty-eighth annual general nioctingat, the Boat Harbour last evening. The commodore (Mr. C. 3. Ward) vas in tho chair, and there was an attendances of about fifty members of the cluo. Fourteen new members wore elected during tho evening:, and the following officers for ihe ensuing year wcro clio&cjn by ballot:— Patron, His Excellency the Go* error; commodore, Mr. C. »l. W.nd; •vice-commodore, Mr. H. Chisholm ; rearcommmiorc, Mr. 0. Froyberg; lion, secretary, Mr. Norman Gibbs, fton, treasurer, Mr. LancasfcrM", committee, Messrs. W. D. Rough, W Birnie. F. Iviorr.ati, W. Mootc, Tl. Millmoft, and A. Duncan; starter, Mr. h. Slcighfcholm ; handicapners, Messrs. W. Mooro, F,. Kiomanr and F. Moffatt; picnic committee, Messrs. P. Froyberg, F. Oooke. E. Rough, and A. Lewi*. Tho following committed Mere also elected :— -Ratting Committee: Messrs. C. J. Ward, H. Chishohn, O. Freyberg, N. Gibbs, W Moore, and C. Ward, Jan., secretary. Regatta Committee: MeSEis. N. Gibb, W. Rough, 0. F?eyb(?fg, 18. Rough, O. J. Ward. — Taylor, H. Chiaholnr,, R. Millmar., — Latieastef, ami F. Cooke. A fttotioti to the efieot thfct all races ifl the future be started on the Mark Foy iVftetn wa«i cameo. If. was decided also that there should be ft limit of two classes, and that the twenty iainulos limit should be abolished. Mr Duncafi moved ; "Thatfto Hsaney be paid out of the club funds for Regatta Day, attcl that 6l>ly mobey raised for that day be paid for that occa« sion." Mf W. Rough seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. YOU WILL FEfiti BETTER. If you drink WaMlongoa Natural Mineral Water regularly. It's not, only a delightful beverage, but infinitely potent as a healing agent. Wr.i-Rongoa contains natural elements which clear tho blood, and combat gout., lhrumatism, gtavet, urio < acid. T>rink it daily. If you do you'll lire longer and happier, for you'll b& healthier. From liotsh or BWre3,!->Adtti