VOTES FOR TROOPS BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 58, 5 September 1914, Page 3

VOTES FOR TROOPS BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

A CLOSE CALL. After The Post went to press yesterday afternoon the Legislative Council concluded its consideration of the Expeditionary Forces Votihg Bill, which had already been passed by the House. The Hon. J. T. Paul made a point of the fact that under the proposals in the Bill the party leaders would have_ to ohoose which of the candidates standing for the various parties aiid leave the voter no chance to make his own choice. The Bill would operate in a more pecup liar fashion than any measure ever passed in a British commuity. The proxy system, with all its faults, would have been very much better. The Hon. H. D. Bell replied that voting by proxy meant the abrogation of the whole system of voting by ballot. It was a precedent fraught with the utmost danger. Hon. 0. Samuel : In some degree these ! are proxies, given to the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition. j The second reading was agreed to on I the voices. j t In Committee the Hon. H. D. Bell, lin answer to a question, said that the great portion of 'the voting would be dona in thfe camps, to which a large number. of electoral officers had been sent. The ! real trouble was the condition of the rolls. The Hon. 0. Samuel and other members pointed out, in reply to this remark, that every member of the Force would have a vote, whether he was 21 years of age or under. The Hon. H. D. Bell moved in clause 4 to add the following new paragraph :— (c) In the event of the form of votingpaper prescribed for the taking of the licensing poll on the issue of National Prohibition being altered during the present session of Parliament, then the votes at the licensing poll under this Act on that issue against National Prohibition and for National Prohibition respectively shall be counted as if they had been, given for National Continuance or' for National Prohibition or otherwise in accordance with the tenor of tho altered) form of the voting-paper in which the issue is submitted for the determination,' of the electors at the General Election. The new clause was agreed to and the Bill was reported with amendment, readi a third time, and ' passed by, 14 to 11, Those voting against wore the Hons. > Baillie, George, Paul, MacGibbOttj Jones, Parata, Baldey, Macgregor, Harris, Thompson, and Samuel. When the amendment Tras reported to the House it was agreed to.