THE ELECTORAL LAW.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 32

THE ELECTORAL LAW.

COMPULSORY REGISTRATION. CHRISTCHURCH, July 2. Failure to make application to the Registrar of Electors for enrolment on the district electoral roll after transfer from one district to another renders a person guilty of this negligence liable to prosecution under the Legislature Act. After three months' residence in a new district an elector becomes qualified for enrolment as an elector of the district, and notice to this effect is sent him at his new address from the registrar’s office. He is allowed a further four months in which to apply for enrolment, and on the expiry of that time becomes liable to prosecution. These facts were emphasised by a ''warning case” in the Magistrate’s Court to-day before Mr H. A. Young, S.M. William G. Eldred, the defendant, did not appear. The Registrar of Electors at Christchurch (Mr J. J. M'Gahey) said that he received advice from the registrar of the Hurunui district on May 28, 1925, that the defendant had transferred from Parnassus to Christchurch. After three or four mouths witness sent defendant notice to enrol, but he did not do so. Witness sent him another notice stamped “Final Notice” 10 months after his arrival in Christchurch, and, as there was no response to that he sent a registered notice with the form for acknowledgment. There was still no response, so an information was laid. On receiving a summons defendant had enrolled, but It was too late to stop the case. It was brought as a warning to others. The defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs.