MANY CONDITIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23156, 30 September 1938, Page 14

MANY CONDITIONS

THE ELECTORAL ACT PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES REGULATIONS AND RIGHTS With the early closing of nominations for Parliamentary honours it is of note that candidates must comply with a variety of regulations under tho Electoral Act before being permitted to appeal to the electorate. Men and women are both eligible to stand, provided they are registered as electors and are not disqualified under a number of headings. Persons who have been deprived of civil' rights as the result of certain indictable offences are among those who are forbidden to seek election, and no undischarged bankrupts may become candidates. The disqualification also applies to members of the Legislative Council. Civil Servants' Position Formerly excluded from the privilege of contesting elections, civil servants may now do so. according to the provisions of tho Political Disabilities Removal Act, 1936. Nominations, which must be made bv at least two electors, must reach the returning officer for tho electorate not later than noon on the day stated in the election writs for the closing ot nominations. On this occasion, next Monday will be the final day. Every person nominated must give his consent to be a candidate. None of tho persons who have nominated him ma> propose anyone else. A Deposit ot £lO When consenting to nomination, tho candidate, or some person on his behalf, must deposit £lO with the returning officer, who is required to bank tho money to tho account of the chief electoral officer, Wellington. If, at tho election, the candidate is .unsuccessful and polls less than a quarter of tho vote 3 obtained by his successful opponent, the money is forfeited and is paid to the Consolidated Fund. Otherwise the £lO is returned, whether tho candidate is successful or not. Any candidate may withdraw from a contest at any time before the closing of nominations, provided that he gives the returning officer a written notice to that effect signed by himself and witnessed by a justice of the peace. STATE HOUSING SCHEME MR. J. E. CLOSE AT ALBANY Cheers greeted the National Partv candidate for Waitcmata, Mr. J. L. Close, when he addressed a large audience in the Coronation Hall, Albany, last night. Mr. A. B. Congdon presided. In the course of his speech Mr. Close dealt with State housing, contrasting the promises of tho Government with its performance to date. He said that the houses that were supposed to cost from £6OO upward and to rent at about 15s a week actually cost almost twice as much, while rents ranged up to 355. This put them entirely beyond tho reach of the people for whom they were intended. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by acclamation, and tho meeting closed with further cheers for tho candidate and tho party.