ONE ONE ROLL FOR ALL ELECTIONS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 August 1925, Page 3

ONE ONE ROLL FOR ALL ELECTIONS.

■ ♦ UNIVERSAL VOTE ON LOANto? WELLINGTON, Last Night. In moving the introduction of the Municipal Corporation Amendment Bill in the House to-day, Mr. Sullivan (Avon) said that the object of the measure was to provide a remedy for the present conditions which defranchised some hundreds of electors. He referred to the multiplicity of rolls for electoral purposes under the existing law. Persons possessing the right to vote in the election of members to Parliament practically had a right to vote in connection with other polls. It seemed unnecessary for the multiplicity of* rolls, which created endless confusion. The principal clause of the Bill instructed the town clerk or other officer responsible for the compilation of the district roll to transfer to the • local roll the names of all persons on the Parliamentary roll who possessed t'he necessary residential qualifications. Mr Nash urged that a special committee should be set up to go into the question. Mr Sidey congratulated Mr Sullivan on his Bill and said there was room for improvement of the present conditions. The measure had the endorsement of the Municipal Association. The Government- should realise there was need for something to be done. The Bill practically gave the same franchise as at present operating and it did not alter the existing law. It did not raise any contentious issues and it seemed to him to be quite a reasonable thing to ask for. • That there was urgent need for legislation in the direction indicated was the opinion expressed by Mr Armstrong. He said there were fout rolls and at every municipal election It „ was found that thousands ot names were omitted from the roll because people did not realise that they had to see that they were on the roll every time an election occurred. He referred to the expense of compiling and printing different rolls and suggested that residential qualifications should apply for all elections as a means of overcoming the difference in qualifications necessary for a general election and local body election. Mr Savage said that the- roll proposed should apply to loan proposals as well as ordinary elections. He hoped the Bill would make the franchise the same to all who had similar residential qualifications. Sir John Luke protested against the suggestion that all electors should be alloweed to vote on loan proposals. Peopjle who were not ratepayers were not fully competent to vote upon a question affecting the finance of a local body. He referred particularly to people who shifted from one district to another, with the financial affairs of which they -were not acquainted. The Bill was introduced and read a first time.