THE SOLDIERS' VOTE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13903, 3 November 1919, Page 6

THE SOLDIERS' VOTE.

ALMOST INSUPERABLE DJI-'l-'T-CULTIES. \0 TROUBLE ABOUT PROHIBITION POLL. By Telegraph. (Special to the Oamaru Mail.) WELLINGTON, November 1. The Prime Minister explained to the House 'to-night that attention was being given to the question of enabling soldiers at sea voting at the forthcoming elections, but he read statements from the Chief Electoral Officer showing how numerous wore the difficulties, making it almost impracticable to take' a satisfactory vote among these returning soldiers owing to the number of candidates, the alteration of electoral boundaries and the fact that many candidates were standing as Independents. The Premier said that .legislation was being prepared and would be submitted to the House on Monday or Tuesday, but the difficulties were so many that it seemed • almost useless to endeavor to overcome them. In answer to inquiries, Sir James Allen said he thought there would not be more than one thousand men afloat, and practically none would remain in England. Mr Massey asid he was prepared to accept the decision of the House on the subject. Mr Isitt : What about the ntohihition vote?

Mr Massey replied that the electoral officer stated that it would not be possible to take the local rest (nation and no-license vote among t lasoldiers at sea, owing to obstacles.

but thero would be no difficultv about taking the prohibition vote. Mr Isitt declared that prior to the taking of the kust poll, an utterly untruthful statement was made that the prolribition party tried to prevent the .soldiers having a vote. The member said the prohibition party were anxious that soldiers should vote last time, and were equally anxious that they should vote, this time. - Sir James Allen : No difficulty was placed in the way of soldiers in Mow Zealand voting at last poll either by the Government or by either of the interested parries.