COMING ELECTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22205, 4 September 1935, Page 13

COMING ELECTION

FACILITIES TO VOTE ISOLATED LOCALITIES PRIME MINISTER'S ASSURANCE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Every facility to vote will be offered by tho Government on general election day to electors who are living in out of the way relief camps and on backblock stations, according to a statement made by the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, in the House of Representatives to-night. In reply to an urgent question by Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour —Napier) Mr. Forbes said that in cases where relief camps were some distance from a polling place returning officers would arrange for a polling place at the camp. For sheep stations and other isolated localities returning officers had been supplied with the necessary forms to be sent on application to persons desirous of voting by post. The postal voting system, however, could not be used at a station where a polling place was established unless the voters were ill or infirm. Members could rest assured that everything would bo done in accordance with tho requirements of the Act to help voters who wero unable to proceed to a booth. THE VOTING SYSTEM NO CHANGE AT PRESENT FEELING IN PARLIAMENT [by TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday In some quarters in New Zealand, and particularly in Wellington, considerable interest is being taken in the question of preferential voting, and the Government is being urged to make provision for an alteration in tho electoral laws before the general election. However, statements made recently by the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, indicate clearly that the Government; is not interested in the matter, and even private members who are interested in electoral reform do not think that any attempt should be made to bring about a change this session. Mr. C. H. Clinkard (Government — Rotorua), who has twice introduced bills to provide for preferential voting, intimated to-day that he did not intend to take any further action during the life of the present Parliament. Ho said tho measures ho had brought down in the past had received no support and lie thought the Prime Minister was right in saying that "it was not playing the game to change the rules just before the match started."

NO LABOUR CANDIDATES TWO SEATS IN NORTH ♦ KAIPARA AND BAY OF ISLANDS [by TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] DARGAVILLE, Tuesday As a member of the executive of the New Zealand Labour Party, Mr. J. G. Barclay, candidate for Marsden, stated officially that there will be no official Labour candidate for either the Kaipara or the Bay of Islands electorates. The Kaipara seat is at present held by Mr. Coates. and Bav of Islands by Mr. H. M. Rushworth (Country Party). WAITEMATA SEAT REQUEST TO MR. G. MILLS A deputation of electors in the Waitemata electorate waited on the Mayor of Birkenhead, Mr. G. Mills, with a request that he should offer himself as National candidate for the Waitemata seat. Mr. Mills replied that he regretted he was unable to become a candidate, owing to his mayoral and other public duties.

NATIONALISTS AT WHAKATANE FORMATION OF COMMITTEE [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WHAKATANE. Tuesdny A meeting of supporters of Mr. Merry, Nationalist candidate for the Bay of Plenty seat, was held to-night. Mr. J. G. Cliff McCullogh was elected chairman of a committee that was formed. Mr. Merrv, in the course of an address, stated that the main roll had been closed with 7771 names, but that fully 2000 more could bo placed on tho supplementary roll. DUNEDIN SOUTH SEAT MR. T. K. S. SIDEY A CANDIDATE [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN. Tuesday Mr. T. K. S. Sidey has been selected as the National candidate to contest the Dunedin South electorate at the general election. He is a partner in the law firm of Ferens, Jeavons and Sidey, and is a son of the late Sir Thomas Sidey.