COMING ELECTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23135, 6 September 1938, Page 14

COMING ELECTION

DUTY TO ENROLL

MANY NAMES STRUCK OFF

OBLIGATIONS OF VOTERS

CHANGES IN ADDRESS

Complaints are being made that many persons who voted .at the last general election have found they are not now on any district electors' roll. Commenting on the position, an officer oi liie National Party pointed out that, while tho party's canvassers had found that large numbers of people not on rolls, in spite of an impression by them that they wero enrolled, the chief cause appeared to ho a failure by electors to notify the registrar of electors of changes of address. Many persons had failed to realise, it was stated, that they should notify a change of address, even if remaining in tho electorate. Moreover, there had be<*n somo confusion arising from changes in boundaries, and in instances that had come to notice persons had been wrongly advised that they had been transferred to other electorates.

Many Not Yet on Soil That many persons were not yet on a roll, in spite of the legal obligation, was disclosed recently, when it was found that in one electorate over 400 persons joined the National Party who had failed to register as electors. Mr. J. H. V. Cnrr, deputy-registrar of electors, explained that no person was removed from the roll except by legal process. Two or three months ago notices wore posted to persons on the rolls, he continued, and it was a duty for all such persons to reply and to notify the registrar of any change of address. Quito a largo number of notices were returned through the dead letter office. In such instances notices were again sent out to those concerned by registered letter, and, if again returned through the dead letter office, it was presumed after a lapse of teq, days or more (the Act stipulated a period of not less than seven days) that the person concerned no longer resided in the electorate, and so was struck off the roll.

Notice after Application Where notices, registered or unregistered, were not returned through tha post, the names were retained on the roll. Where a person was enrolled following application, a formal notification was sent out to the elector informing, him or her of tho fact. Provided an elector was able to produce such advice, ho or she would be permitted to rote, even if the name was not actually on the roll. There were sometimes complaints about the non-receipt of such notices, it usually being found that a party canvasser had delayed putting in enrolments until a fair number was secured. Electors had an obligation to enroll, and they would be well advised to satisfy themselves in all instances that their names were actually on the roll.

: • NATIONAL PARTY > CHOICE OF CANDIDATES : SEVERAL BALLOTS ARRANGED i "National Partv candidates have now either been selected or nominated for ' the party ballot for all electorates in -thg Auckland Province except Grev ' Lvnn, and preparations are in train for the calling of nominations for this electorate. Apart from Grey Lynn, the selection of candidates to represent the party "will be completed in a little over • a week. v , , , r Arrangements have been made tor holding a selection ballot to determine the party's candidate for the Auckland Central scat, at present held for Labour : by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry. The tAo nominees, Messrs. C. B-. Dodd and F. H. Hildreth, are to present themselves at a meeting of party members at the Lewis Eadv Hall next Tuesday night. Other ballots are to be held in Onehunga to-night, in Auckland East on Thursday night, and in Auckland Suburbs next Monday.

THAMES ELECTORATE ' CANDIDATE'S MEETINGS [ex telegraph—own correspondent] "WAIHI, Monday Tie National Party candidate for the Thames seat, Mr. >V. A. Clark, who is visiting Waihi, has addressed several successful meetings. On Saturday afternoon he gave a brief address to a large attendance in the Waitawheta Hall.

Mr. W. C. Kennedy presided and a rot# of thanks and confidence in the National Party was carried unanimously. Another large meeting was held in flier Waimata Hall in the evening. Among those present were residents of Waihi, Waihi Beach, Waitawheta and "W'aitekauri.

TE MATA-RUAPUKE BRANCH ELECTION OF OFFICERS [from OtTR owx correspondent] i RAGLAN, Monday There was a representative attendanpe at a meeting of the Te MataRuapuke branch of the National Party, when Mr. A. S. Sutherland, candidate for, the Raglan electorate, was present. Mr. J. L. T. Martyn was re-elected chairman and Mr. W. Thomson, secretary. Delegates to the conference at Hamilton were Messrs. J. L. T. Martyn, W. Thomson and J. P. Porter.