LICENSING POLL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25301, 11 August 1943, Page 2

LICENSING POLL

VOTING AT GENERAL ELECTION

PROVISION FOR SERVICEMEN (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 10. A full licensing poll would be taken in conjunction with the general election poll, said the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, when the Electoral Department estimates were being discussed in the House of Representatives to-night. He said he was glad of the opportunity to clear up the confusion which seemed to exist in regard to servicemen overseas. They would be entitled to vote wherever they were serving abroad through the special roll compiled, and they would have a vote on the licensing question. Their votes would be credited to the electorate to which they belonged. Mr Fraser said that the procedure in regard to the election of parliamentary members was that when the nominations closed the names of the candidates and their party designations would be cabled overseas. As soon as they were received voting would commence, and would continue until the eve of the polls in New Zealand. It was quite possible that the overseas figures would be available for inclusion in the counting on polling night. The servicemen in camps in New Zealand.were in a different position, the Prime Minister continued. Their votes on the licensing poll would go to their civilian residential electorate. They would have the option, however, of voting in the electorate in which their camp or station was situated, provided they had the necessary residential qualification, or of voting in their ordinary home electorate. The Prime Minister also clarified the voting privileges of persons in the Dominion who were directed by the man-power officers to employment far distant from their electorates. They would have the option of enrolling in the district where they were now employed and voting in that electorate or of voting for candidates in their home electorates. He pointed out that this option applied to people directed officially into industries. Those who chose to take up employment in other districts would be subject to the ordinary residential qualifications.