Mid. East Voting Papers Burnt, P.M. Tells House

Northern Advocate, 25 February 1944, Page 4

Mid. East Voting Papers Burnt, P.M. Tells House

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Prime Minister (Hon. P. Fraser) laid on the table of the House of Representatives yesterday the reports of the special returning officers appointed to take the votes ot members of the Expeditionary Forces overseas and other units of the armed forces abroadHe praised the whole-hearted cooperation of the commanding and other officers of our own and Allien forces in the completion of the task. Mr Fraser said he was certain that members after reading the reports would agree that every possible effort was made, in some instances under very severe strain. However, he felt it his duty to draw attention to the report of the special returning officer for the Middle East area in which he explained his action in causing the destruction by fire, after the official count was 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 by which papers were held in custody in sealed bundles for 1.2 months before burning. However, the regulations relating to the forces’ voting provided that the special returning officers’ official count figure® should be final and should be deemed correct for all purposes and should, accordingly, be accepted in any magisterial recount of civilian votes. It would be observed from the report that an official recount 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.

No Invalidation

Mr Fraser added that there was no question at all of the occurrence invalidating the election in any way. since the Electoral Amendment Act, 1940, provided that the validity of any election or licensing poll should not. be questioned on the ground that anything required to be done by the Act or by any regulations under the Act, had been irregularly done or had not been done.

Mr Fraser inconclusion paid 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 returning officers, it would be arranged for without hesitation.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) said that the whole House was, grateful for Mr Fraser’s explanation and the course he suggested would probably be the best in view of the number of complaints which had been heard about minor irregularities, and that some serviceman did not vote at all. The fact that the whole of the Middle East election and licensing papers had been destroyed came as a surprise and shock to members, but thev 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.