WITHOUT A VOTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17113, 19 March 1919, Page 6

WITHOUT A VOTE.

DISFRANCHISED SOLDIERS.

CABINET TO DO NOTHING. "MISSED THEIR OPPORTUNITY." [by TBLECRAPH.— PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Acting-Prime Minister, Sir James Allen, informed a reporter to-day that the Cabinet had considered the complaint made by certain returned soldiers in connection with the licensing poll. These men had been discharged from the Expeditionary Force, and they failed subsequently to get their names placed on the roll. Under the law, therefore, they coidd not vote at the licensing poll. The Government, said the Minister, would have liked to help these men to secure their voting privilege but it could not do anything for them. They had missed their opportunity to enrol in the ordinary way, and as they were discharged they could not bo treated as soldiers.

INDIGNATION IN AUCKLAND. MORE PROTESTS LODGED. The disfranchisement of over 300 returned soldiers has been the subject of further communications to the ActingPrime Minister. Mr. Vernon H. Reed, M.P., telegraphed as follows :—" I must protect against the disfranchisement of a number, of returned soldiers. If your interpretation of the term ' members of the Expeditionary Force" is correct and it is impossible to reinstate the soldiers discharged since February, a wrong has been inflicted upon those soldiers receiving their discharges immediately prior to the closing of the rolls. 1 am requested to ask you what remedy the Government suggest*." The secretary of the Efficiency League, Mr. T. H. 'Maclcy, scut the following telegram to Sir James Allen :—" The Efficiency League is anxiously awaiting a reply to its telegram of March 13, in connection with the disfranchisement, of soldiers. Is our supgeeted remedy not possible?" On behalf of the New Zealand Alliance, the Hon. George- Fowlds telegraphed :— " No reply has been received to my telogram of Maroh 13, in regard to the disfranchisement of returned soldiers. Ifte feeling here is strongly in favour of 6ome remedy being provided." /

STAMEN'S ELECTORAL RIGHTS. VOTING AFTER MARCH 20. Regulations are published in a Gazette Extraordinary, dated March 12, providing for the exercise of electors' rights held by seamen in connection with the licensing poll. They provide that seamen may vote at any time after March 20 and before the closing of the poll on April 10.