“JERRYMANDERING”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 305, 11 December 1935, Page 7

“JERRYMANDERING”

M.P.’s VOTING RIGHTS

Mr E. J. Howard’s Allegation

BOARD MEMBER’S ELECTION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Dee. 10.

In no uncertain terms the manner of Mr. M. E. Lyons’s election to the Board of Governors of Canterbury Agricultural College (Lincoln) as representative of the Canterbury members of the Legislature was condemned at yesterday’s meeting of the Board. Mr. E. J. Howard, M.P., whose seat on the board will be taken by Mr. Lyons, went so far as to describe the election, in which Canterbury M.P.’s were debarred from voting, as “the prettiest piece of jerrymandering’’ ever “put over’’ since he had been in public life.

The whole question turned on whether from the time of the dissolution of Parliament M.P.’s ceased to be members of the Legislature. Under the ruling of the director of the college, Professor Alexander, who acted as returning officer, M.P.’s were declared to be civilly dead and de debarred from voting in the election of a member which took place before the recent general election. Under this ruling the only voters were four members of the Legislative Council who were named as the Hons. It. Heaton Rhodes, Hayward, Buddo and Isitt.

Mr. Howard this morning contended that under the Civil List Act M.P.’s were paid from the date of their election until the date of the next election. Therefore they remained M.P.’s until the time of that election. Furthermore, he contended that even if M.P.’s were struck off the roll of voters the two Canterbury Cabinet Ministers at the time, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes and the Hon, J, Bitchener, should have remained on the roll. On this count alone, it was submitted that the election was invalid.

A suggestion made by Mr. H. S. 5. Kyle, M.P., was that in the circumstances Mr. Lyons should resign his seat and that a fresh election should be held in which the present M.P.’s could participate. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to set up a commitlee consisting of the chairman, Dr. Denham, Messrs. Buddo and Kyle to report upon the method of the election, and in particular to make such inquiries as might be necessary concerning the validity of the recent election.