THE ELECTORAL ROLLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15730, 3 October 1914, Page 9

THE ELECTORAL ROLLS.

COMPLAINT IN THE HOUSE. OMISSION OF NAMES. [by TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL correspondent] Wellington, Friday. The position of ,the electoral rolls was again referred to in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Sir J. Ward. Sir Joseph referred to his previous statement that under the present system of enrolment some people were finding themselves disfranchised. He instanced the case of Thos. Walsh, of Shag Point, who received a notice stating that his name would be removed from the roll unless he showed cause before September 10. Yet the notice was only posted at Oamaiu on September 16. He quoted a similar case at Taumarunui, in one of the back-block districts, a canvasser found, that 20 people who were not so far enrolled had received no notice at all.

The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister in Charge of the Electoral Department, in reply, said there bad been no change in the electoral law since last election. The two cases mentioned by Sir Joseph Ward were evidently clerical errors. The leader of the Opposition was expecting the Government to be in the same position three months before the election that he himself was in only a week before the last election. As to 20 people in one district not being on the roll now, he, Mr. Fisher, found scores of people who were not on the roll in his constituency on the day before the last election. It would always happen that there would be names not on the roll. They could not compel people to put their names on the roll. In any case, they could not yet the work done in 0119 day. They were determined this time, however, that they would have a clean roll,_ and it would be as big as the last roll. The main Toll would be closed on the 7th, and the rolls would be printed in the different districts.

Mr. Russell (Avon) said that he had been informed that the postal officers were not supplied with copies of the rolls, and that they merely called at houses and left the forms. He mentioned instances in which he had been informed that after the postal officials were supposed to have completed their work, private canvassers had gone round and discovered a very large number of people who had not been enrolled.

Mr. Payne (Grey Lynn) asked whether the Imperial Reservists who were going Home would be allowed to vote before; leaving. Mr. Fisher said that unfortunately no provision had been made for these men. They could not be permitted to vote without the passing of special legislation. Mr. McCombs (Lyttelton) said the postal officials were rather lukewarm in attending to their portion of the work. He asked whether the Minuter would give instructions by telegraph to the post offices to have as many people as possible enrolled by the time fixed for the closing of the main rolls. «

Mr. Fisher said that this would be done.