HALF-CASTE MAORI VOTING: BILL AMENDED & PASSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22808, 1 December 1948, Page 3

HALF-CASTE MAORI VOTING: BILL AMENDED & PASSED

(P.R.) WELLINGTON, Dec. L A half-caste may not change from the European to the Maori electoral roll, or vice versa, except for general elections under an amendment to the Electoral Amendment Bill moved by tlie actingprime Minister, Mr. W. Nash, during the committee stagey on the measure in the House of Representatives yesterday.

The bill was passed. The point was raised on the second reading by Mr. G. H. Mackley (Oppos., Wairarapa), who said that the original bill, which required only 12 months between transfer from roll to roll, placed a half-caste in a better position than a European or full-blooded Maori. Reply By Minister

Mr.. Mackley also objected to a person living in one place and working in another as. for example, men in public works camps being permitted to choose which electorate to vote in. That had happened in the Raglan election. The Minister of Education, Mr. T. H. McCombs said the point was not raised by the bill before the House. Mr. Mackley would have the House say that single men in a public works camp in a country district would be qualified to vote in that district, while married men working in the same camp but with a family in town would not be entitled to vote in the country electorate. The point was at least arguable and a mai: should not have to disclose his marital status on enrolling. No Malicious Intent

Mr. A. C. Baxter (Govt., Raglan) said it was interesting to note that the judges of the Raglan petition had agreed that in every case challenged there was no malicious intent. What had happened at Raglan had also happened unchallenged in practically every electorate. The judges were of the opinion that a person could have an equal right to residence in two or more electorates. It was very difficult to define what was the home of a number of people of a floating vocation. Both parties would be canvassing just that sort of people, but the position would even itself out over the whole country.