THE ELECTORAL LAWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12483, 14 October 1902, Page 6

THE ELECTORAL LAWS.

(Pee United Pbess Association.) INVERCARGILL, October 13. A friendly action taken against the Registrar of Electors here arises out of diverse interpretations of the new Electoral Law. The registrar (Mr M'Ewan) was charged (1) with refusing to supply an. extract from the cleotara-l roll, though requested to , do so by the informant (J. S. Baxter): (2) omitting to publicly exhibit on a board outside the office for a' period of at least one month the names of eortein electors struck off the roll; (3) having been satisfied that certain claims for enrolment were valid, omiitting to place them on the roM. The central fact of the- contention- was the question: Is there , at present a roll? Mr W. Maoaliste.r, for complainant, said he understood the registrar believed his afctitir.',? was a legal one, and that it was his desire not to do anything opposed to the provisions of the act, by which he had to be guided. Counsel's client submitted that all they required of the registrar was in accordance with these provisions, and M'Ewan had interfered very materially with them in the matter of getting names on the roll and having others removed. The attitude of the registrar placed the electors in the position of not knowing what was being , done with the roll. The legislation appeared to contemplate that the electors should be in apposition to scrutinise all the acts of the registrar in making up th© roll. It was admitted that M'Ewan 'received a proper application for information, but their being, he contended, no rail in existence as yet, it was not incumbent on him to supply the particulars asked for in regard to the charge of failing to .poet up the names struck off the roll. Defendant again said there was no roll, but plaintiff held that there was one. Mr Rattray, for the defence, said that the registrar wished to do hie duty. He considered that people had no right to information from a list not a roll, in course of preparation. It would be almost impassible to reply to everyone who went to the office on business of this nature, as the time of the clerks was fully employed in other directions. If there -was a roll in existence, the registrar should have given extracts and posted the names, but counsel contended that the registrar had been required to prepare a now roll, and from that date the old one cseassd to exist. The net said thtit anyone desirous may inspect the roll, biit the roll nrust first be compiled, printed, and signed by the registrar. Mr M'Carthy, S.M., said lie had not had an opportunity to peruse the new law, only one copy of the act being in town, but it seemed to him three terms were used—viz., "Roll," "New roll," and " List," the first being evidently the old roll a,nd the last two interchangeable terms. Mr Rattray submitted that when the registrar was "required " to'make a new roll the old ceased to exist. Big Worship eaid the ant allowed an elector to inspect a roll, but if there was only a list there was no ■obligation on the registrar to show that Mr Maealister said that the ohanre provided for a copy (6d for 72 words) indicated that the Legislature contemplated that the roll would be open for inspection while being prepared. Ho also contended that the old roll was in exifitenoo till the dissolution of Parliament. His Worship gives hie decision on Wednesday.