SOLDIERS' VOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12776, 21 October 1919, Page 7

SOLDIERS' VOTES.

THE MEN AT SEA,

DISCUSSION BN HOUSE.

[Prom Otm Correspondent.] . M ELLINGTON, October 20. Soldiers* votes and votes for soldiers* wives were tho subject of an interesting debate ‘I 1 tlle House this evening. When the Prime was moving tho reading of the Expeditionary Forces "Voting Bill a member asked : Does it provide for soldier’s wives?"

The Prime Minister said it did not. These young women would not be able to comply with the requirements of the law as to residence. They would not have any knowledge of the affairs of the country to enable them to vote and he thought it would be better that they should wait until they had the necessary qualifications. The Hon A. M. Myers asked if soldiers at sea were provided fm. The Prime Minister: "No. This is only for those in New Zealand.” It was a very difficult question to provide for those at sea. The matter would have to be looked into again. It would not be satisfactory to let tho soldiers at sea vote unless they gave names of the candidates. The last arrangement made had worked very unsatisfactorily. Mr P. Fraser: 1 ‘ Could not the names be wirelessed ?" The Prime Minister said that might be done. There would be very few soldiers who had not returned.

Mr Wilford: " They ought to be provided for in anv case."

Mr Hnrris: “It would l>e quite useless to givo them names alone. They would require information as to party and other matters. Tho Prime Minister: “ From what I can see there arc going to be about forty parties at the next election.’’ After further debate tho Prime Minister gave an assurance that he would instruct the Electoral Department to prepare machinery if possible to enable soldiers at sea to vote.