THE BY-ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1920, Page 4

THE BY-ELECTION.

SOLDIERS NOT ON HOLL, NO REMEDY PROMISED. B)- Teleeraph—Preui A&im—CopjjitllJt, Wellington, Last flight. When the House of Repramttßivee' resumed to-iji#ht, Mi-. Ma»«ey aid the Leader of the Opposition hut »aae representation to him with regard to the difficulty of soldiers getting OD tie roll for the Bay of Plenty election. ' In that connection he desired to say that when a vacancy occurred daring th* session the Speaker ordered the issue of a writ, and the writ was issued forthwith. Advertisements were inserted fan the papers that the writ was toned, and the forms of law 1 observed. When tite vacancy at the Bay of Plenty occurred, he was consulted by the electoral officer and ho (the officer) wag told to comply with'the law, but not to hurry the election. He quoted precedents over a period of ten years to show that more than the usual time had been given In the case of this election. It was unfortunate if some people could not get on the roll, but it would establish a dangerous precedent if the request to rc-open the rolls was granted. He could hold out no hope of that being done. i Mr. Wiltbrd: "Can't you work It for soldiers even, if not for other peoplftl" Mr. Massey replied that not many roldiers could be affected. Besides they were not soldiers now, and he thought it unwise to depart in any way from the course laid down by the law.