POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 12

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE COMING ELECTIONS. ENROLMENT OF VOTERS. GOOD PROGRESS BEING MADE. [by telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON. Friday. A question as to whether any arrangements had been made to enrol as electors the crews of ships proceeding off shore, was put to the Prime Minister this afternoon by Mr. C. H. Poole (Auckland West), who said he had been informed that the Moaua was about to sail, and would not be back until just before I i the probable date of the election. He j wished to know whether anything was being done to meet the case of the crew. Mr. Massey replied that he did not know whether anything was being done at the moment, but the whole matter of the enrolment of the crews of overseas vessels was being investigated. Opportunity was taken at the same time by the Prime Minister to read a memorandum from the head of the Electoral Department reporting the progress that was being made with the enrolment of electors generally. It stated that the task was being accomplished rapidly by the postal officers, to whom it had been entrusted in the cities. The duty was being done in the country by the postmasters, and in isolated places by the rural mail system. A large number of places where the work was well forward were detailed. The report further stated that investigation was being made by special Government officials where there appeared on the roils the names of electors who could not be found in the districts where they had been registered.

SUPPLY OF DOMESTICS. Representations were ma<!e in the House of Representatives this afternoon by the Hon. A. M. Myers (Auckland East) urging Government action to relieve the acute shortage of domestic servants. Mr. Myers asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the position at present obtaining, he would arrange that .a party of domestic servants should be brought out by each ship leaving England. Mr. Massey replied that the earliest possible moment that anything could be done was when all the soldiers had returned. Mr. Myers: But they will all be back very soon now. The Prime Minister agreed that this was so, but pointed out that, even then, there were a great many civilians waiting their chance to return to the Dominion, including many who had been engaged on war work. Mr. Myers: Ladies first. Mr. Massey: Exactly. We have not lost sight of our immigration policy, which will be put into operation at the earliest possible moment.