VOTES FOR THE FORCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 174, 28 August 1914, Page 9

VOTES FOR THE FORCE.

AN INTERESTING PETITION. [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] \VKLLINGTOX, August 27. The following petition, signed by l.'ioO members of the Expeditionary Force now in camp at Palmerston Morth, was presented in the House this evening liv Mi D. Buick, M.l'.: 1. That we are members of the Kxpeditionary Force now being raised in the Dominion of New Zealand fo>: service abroad in connection with til? defence of the Fmpire. ~2. That as members of such force Ave will be called upon to leave the 'Dominion. That we are duly qualified electors of the Dominion, registered, or entitled to be registered, on the vari-

ous electoral rolls of different electoral districts. 4. That during our absence from the Dominion a General Election will be held in the Dominion. 5. That we are anxious that we shall not be deprived of our privilege of voting at such election whilst we are engaged .in the service of the Empire. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that this honourable House will take into its favourable consideration the circumstances in which we are placed, and take such steps as to this honourable House may seem right in order to assure that we will not be disenfranchised at the next General Election, and that facilities be afforded your petitioners to record their votes thereat or in connection therewith. v A BILL COMING DOWN. Sir Joseph Ward suggested that in order that members of the Expeditionary Force should be able to exercise the franchise of the next election special provision should be made, in every camp for soldiers to vote either,for the Liberal or the Reform Party. Special rolls could be prepared by electoral camp officers, and the voting could go on just the same as if the men were in the Dominion. An alternative system could be carried out by power of attorney, but there were objections to the proxy system. The details for the scheme he suggested could be provided to meet every exigency that could arise. A man would simply have to vote for the candidate accepted by the leader on either side. It would certainly be a novel mode of procedure, but New Zealand had already established good precedents and surely it ought to be able to rise to the necessities of this great occasion. Mr G. W. Russell said that on a recent visit to Auckland he had visited the military camp and many of the men had brought the franchise question before him. There was no reason why voting on the licensing question should not proceed before the remainder of the Expeditionary Force left the country. The plan outlined by the Leader of tho Opposition for the regular election could be elaborated without any difficulty. If the Labour Party of New Zealand would agree to a leader with authority to select candidates, votes could be given in favour of that party. If this matter were tackled with a sincere desire and determination that the men going away should have the opportunity of recording their votes, any difficulties standing in the way could certainly be surmounted. Mr J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) regarded it as imperative that some announcement should be made by the Government at once on this matter. The Hon. J. Allen said that a Bill providing for the voting of the Expeditionary Force had already been drafted.

He was informed by the AttorneyGeneral that it was typewritten, and it would certainly be brought down on Tuesday.