N.Z. SERVICE VOTES

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1944, Page 4

N.Z. SERVICE VOTES

In General Election REPORTS OF SPECIAL RETURNING OFFICERS, p.A. WELLINGTON, Feb. 24. This afternoon, Rt. Hon. Mr. Fraser laid on the table of the House the report of the special Returning Officers appointed to take the votes of the members of the Expeditionary Forces overseas, and other units, of tne Armed Forces abroad.. He praised the whole-hearted co-operation of the commanding and other officers of our own and. of Allied forces in the completion of the task/ Mr. Fraser said that he was certain that members, after reading the reports, would agree that every possible effort was made—and made in some instances under very difficult circumstances—to obtain the vote of every serviceman. However, he felt that it was his duty to draw attention to the report of the Special Returning Officer for the Middle East area, wherein he explained his action m causing the destruction, by fire, after the official count had been completed, of used electoral ballot and licensing voting papers. As this was a departure from the customary method of disposing of used ballot papers, some explanation was due to .members. Mr. Fraser recalled the customary procedure Avhereby the papers were held in custody in sealed bundles 12 months before burning. However, the regulations relating to the Forces’ voting .provided that the Special Returning Official count figures should be final, and should be deemed correct for all purposes, and should, accordingly, be accepted in any Magisterial re-count of civilian votes. It would be observed from the report that the official re-count was conducted in the presence of two witnesses nominated by the Second N.Z.E.F., Lieutenant J. H. Blair and Lieutenant R. J. Thomas. Mr. Fraser added that there was no question at all of any occurrence invalidating an election In any way, since the Electoral Amendment Act, 1940, provided that the validity of any election or any licensing poll should not be questioned on the ground that anything required to be done by the Act, or bv any regulations under the Act, had been irregularly done, or not been done. Mr. Fraser, in conclusion, paid a tribute to the excellent work of the Special Returning Officers, with the exception of the instance he had referred to; and said that, should members desire a 'Parliamentary Committee set up for the purpose of obtaining further information from the Special Returnins Officers, it would be arranged for without hesitation.

Mr. S. G. Holland .(Nat., Christchurch North), said the whole House was grateful for Mr. Fraser’s explanation. The course he suggested would probably be the best, in view of the number of complaints whicn had been heard about minor irregularities, and that some servicemen did not vote at all. The fact that the whole Middle East election and licensing papers had been destroyed came as a surprise and shock to members, but they would suspend judgment until more conversant with the facts. Then, either a committee could be set up, or the whole House could consider the matter at a later date. .

“They are working as much overtime as we are,” said the Greymouth Manpower Officer (Mr G. G. M. Mitchell) last evening, in*-reply to a query from the Christchurch Manpower Appeal Committee as to his personal knowledge of the hours being worked in a local legal firm. “Of course,” replied the chairman (Mr K. G. Archer) humorously, “that is only speaking comparatively.” Mr Mitchell, however, was not found without an _ answer, and rising in defence of his department, with the reply: “I’ll brin e evidence on that!”

Three days quick-selling—Friday, Saturday, Monday, at White’s Big Summer Fashion Sale. —Advt.

Postponement for six months ot the restoration of licenses in Invercargill, under a new Government regulation, is not relished in the southern city by everybody. Yesterday morning there was a special meeting of the Municipal Ownership and Control Committee which decided to send the following telegram to the Minister of Justice, the Leader of the Opposition and Mr Denham, the local Member: “The Committee can assure the Government that Invercargill can give a decent service for retailing liquor in June. We are unanimously of the opinion that the electors should have liquor retailed in Invercargill at the due date.”

When cross-examining an appellant as to her usefulness as a stenographer in a lawyer’s office, the Manpower Officer at Greymouth (Mr G. G. M. Mitchell), at last evening’s sitting of the Christchurch Manpower Appeal Committee, decided on a practical test. Io the amusement of the Court the girl in the witness box was handed paper and pencil and requested to take down Mr Mitchell’s dictation. Appellant read back her phonographic characters with only a single hesitation. Mr Mitchell pointed out, however, that no fewer than seven abbreviated long-hand characters were used in the short passage.

Post Free! Gent’s good Drill Khaki Shirts. Only- a limited supply. 10/-, 12/6, 15/-, 17/6. Easily 4/- per garment cheaper- than elsewhere. —H. Hamer, Kumara. —Adyt. A deficiency on West Coast National Savings quota of £428 15s is shown in last week’s investment fig? ures, or one of forty per cent. Ross with £67 6s exceeded its quota by £35 6s, .and Hokitika with £203 Ils 6d, had a surplus qf.£33 Ils 6d. The localities with deficiencies (indicated in parentheses) were: Greymouth £238 (£259), Runanga £3 19s 5d (£97 Is). Reefton £36 5s (£46 15s), Blackball. £8 0s 6d (£43 19s 6d), Brunnerton £3O 18s 6d (£l9 Is 6d) Kumara £l7 14s 8d (M 3 5s 4d) Waiuta £23 15s (£ll ss), Otira £6 15s (£7 5.5). Total investments were £636, or £428 15s short of the district quota. Blackball, Greymouth, Otira and Waiuta made up their quotas by using carry-overs from earlier periods.

“Hang vour washing on the Seigfrieq Line?’ but don’t hang it on vour hotel balconies. Our city fathers are concerned about the appearances of our fair city and rightly so, after all, .appearances count. The controversy is not all one-sided however. Hotel proprietors are about their wits end, what with staffs being manpowered and linen unprocurable. In the old days before a modern laundry was established in Greymouth, this was the only way of drying washing and old methods die hard. Getting back to appearances just stand out on the road and pass a critical eye at the appearances of your hotel with the washing hanging on the balcony. You will then ring 136 and have Westland Laundry call for your washing and have it returned beautifully finished at a price that will astound you. Then again, guests are most crit’cal about appearances. .Be modern and have your hotel with appearances second to none. If you do not have a good stock of linen, which is no disgrace these days, Westland Laundry will give you a daily service. Westland Laundry Ltd. ’Phone 136 Depot: 27 Albert Street—Advt.