REPORT ON SERVICEMEN'S VOTES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21581, 7 December 1944, Page 6

REPORT ON SERVICEMEN'S VOTES

FATE OF^ PAPERS OFFICERS ACTION ‘ERROR OF JUDGMENT’ ELECTION NOT AFFECTED (P.R.) WELLINGTON. Dec. 7. The Select Parliamentary Committee appointed in March last by the House of Representatives to inquire into and report upon the organisation and methods employed for recording and dealing with the votes of servicemen jn the 1943 general election presented its report to the House yesterday. When the report was tabled ike Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, said it was proposed to set aside special time for the House to discuss it. and he suggested that the deflate be taken either on Monday or Tuesday. Such an arrangement, lie said, would enable the members to peruse the evidence heard by the committee. The chairman of the committee, Mr. A. G. Osborne tGov.. Onehunga) said the committee’s finding was not unanimous. Its conclusions were: The committee is satisfied fA) That the organisation set up for the conduct of the general election among servicemen was adequate and.that the special returning officers performed their duties efficiently. (B) That the proper methods were employed for recording’ and counting’ the votes and that there was no unfair practice, breach of secrecy, negligence or other irregularity in the performance of these functions. (C) That the special returning officer in the Middle East, who in all matters carried out his duties wiih outstanding ability and efficiency committed' an error of judgment in deciding to burn the used electoral material contrary to the requirements ol' the Electoral Act, 1927. (D) That this officer, in arriving at his decision to burn the used electoral material, acted in good faith, having regard to the difficulties in returning material to New Zealand due to shipping storage and security factors and in the knowledge that the count had been properly conducted and the results of the voting faithfully transmitted to New Zealand and that his declaration was final. (E) That there were no circumstances which it would be in the interests of any person to conceal and that the burning of the electoral material was not for the purpose of concealing and did not in fact conceal any irregularity. „ , (F) That the burning of the ballot papers did not in any way affect the validity or the result, of the election. Percentage Well Maintained Reviewing its conclusions, the report’ stated that special returning officcrs were based, in the United Kingdom, Canada, the Middle East and the Pacific area and there was one for servicemen in New Zealand. The number of votes cast of the estimated voting' strength in each area represented the following percentages: United Kingdom, 75 per cent; Canada. 76; Middle East, 88; Pacific, 97. These compared favourably with the civilian votes percentage, which was 82.8 per cent. ! Inquiring into particular instances in which-servicemen had bean unable to vote, it was found that the most important related to India. The failui e of the -thorough preparations made -was due to Post Office officials not under New- Zealand control sending material by surface mail instead of air mail as instructed. „ , ~ ... The committee was satisfied that the special returning officers who were apppointed by the chief electoral officer, with the concurrence of the Government, were well fitted to conduct their work, and their success, despite many difficulties in enabling such heavy polling, was a tribute to their efficiency, and their diligence was worthy of great praise. lhe polling officers were officers commanding the respective service units or officers delegated by them, except in the Middle East, where two travelling booths were organised to cover 'small isolated groups. On the nominations of the candidates closing on September 9, the official list was sent overseas by the chief electoral officer. Party propaganda material left for the Pacific by air mail on September 11 and bycable to the Middle East and Canada on September 12. Arrangements had been made for voting in the Middle East’ on September 12, but, owing to the ri'ori-arriVal of propaganda material, the voting was stopped until September 19 at the instance of General Sir Bernard IFreyberg, so that the men could peruse the electioneering material. Some 6000 votes had been cast, however, before the signal of stopping voting was received by the units. The. voting was carried out in accordance with the Electoral Members of the Forces Regulations, 1941, and the evidence before the committee indicated that it was conducted in a proper manner and that there was no unfair practice, breach of secrecy, negligence or other irregularity. The scrutiny of the rolls revealed onlytwo cases of dual voting, these being in the Middle East. The votes had been disallowed.