THE COMING ELECTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11304, 1 September 1922, Page 5

THE COMING ELECTION

CLEANING THE ROLLS COMPLAINTS OF WRONG NAMES BEING STRUCK OFF. REFERENCES IN HOUSE. “During ’a visit to my district last week,” said Mr O. Hawken (Egmont) ui the House of Representatives yesterday, “I came across a case of a whole family of farmers, who had been in the district .for many years, who have been struck off the roll.” Mr Hawken said, that there were sixteen in the family and that there was no reason at s,U why they should have been struck off. He would like to know by whosoauthority the names of -such people had been struck off, and if there was no safeguard against such occurrences. The Prime Minister said he had received a number of complaints, hut ho was not able to state the reason for tile trouble. The mode of procedure included the sending of a notice before a name was struck off the roll. Mir Jennings: They are not doing that. I did not receive a notice before my name was struck off the roll. Mr Masters: There are plenty of instances .in my district similar to the one mentioned by the member for Egmont. Mr Massey said that he had had a talk on the subject to the electoral officer. . who said that very great care was teipg taken in the cleaning of the roll. Mr Massey agreed that there should bo a cleaning of the roll. There were oomplaints that names were going on the roll of people who had not been found. He could only say that fee had the greatest confidence in the Electoral Department. Mr Masters: We all have. Mr Nash: I had a complaint yes terday of several people struck off the roll. Mr Lee: Everyone will have to look for himself to see that he as on the roll. Mr Massey: Yes, they will have to look. I will have to look closely to see that I am on. Mr Jennings: You might he left like I was. Mr Massey: That is what I wae thinking of. I want to record my vote for Sir-John Luke. Mr Howard: Mr Massey said that there were certain names going on the roll and the people could not be discovered. That is stuffing the roll. I would like to know if the Prime Minister has had inquiries made. It is a very serious thing. 5 Mr Massey: I said that complaints had reached me to that effect. I have asked the electoral officer to look into it. Mr Howard: It is rather serious. Dr Thacker: Will he arrange that when a man puts his name on the roll he will get a receipt to say that he is on. I find that os, election day there are scores of people who go to vote who find that they ore not on the roll. , Mr Massey: I think what the hon. member asks is -being done. Dr Thacker: It is not. - Mr Massey: It has been the custom in previous years. I am not personally su a position to say, but I will make •inquiries. , ■ .