COMPULSORY VOTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19762, 13 April 1926, Page 9

COMPULSORY VOTING

THE AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM,

BRITAIN URGED TO TRY EX-

PERIMENT.

(Presa AaoociaticD —By Telegrapi. —Copyright.) LONDON. April 12. (Received April 12, at 9 p.m.) The Dajily Telegraph, discussing compulsory voting on a basis of Australia’s experience, expresses the opinion that the subject is well worth the sympathetic attcn tion of the Conservative Government, even if the inquiry does net establish the desirability of adopting the Australian system entirely. The senatorial elections in November, it says, prove the success of the system, though full allowance has to be made for the fact that the compulsory vote is a new experiment and new brooms sweep clean. When the novelty has worn off. there may be a falling away, The fines have been collected without difficulty, the defaulters being given the option of being dealt with by the electoral officers. A similar procedure might be followed in Britain where the new law would thus pay its own way.—A. and N.Z. Cable.