PUBLIC OPINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17978, 15 October 1926, Page 6

PUBLIC OPINION.

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING. Compulsory Voting. The logical sequel of the provision, which is now included in the law cf New Zealand, that persons qualified to be electors of the Dominion must be enrolled, whether or not they wish to be. is that, being enrolled, they must also record their votes. The Legislature has not, however, seen fit to make the exercise of the vote legally compulsory. An elector in Australia, where voting is compulsory, has been discomfited in an attempt to prove that the provision of law which renders a voter liable to prosecution and fine if he does not exercise his electoral privilege is ultra vires. It is not wholly surprising to learn that a person with the pertinacity to appeal, presumably at his own expense, not only to the Supreme Court, but even to the High Court. from the original decision against him in a minor court is one of those strange individuals who, regarding the act of voting as irreligious, are conscientious objectors to the exercise of the franchise. A. community is scarcely likely to gain a great deal by compelling all sorts of; eccentric persons to record votes upon issues about which they are so indifferent as not to have formed any opinions or about which their opinions may not possess any value. On the other hand, if there is any ground for assuming that all the votes, or even most of the votes, that are registered are cast intelligently, it is to be acknowledged that the existence of the provision requiring every elector to record his or her vote, under a penalty for disregarding the law, has had one excellent effect in Australia. It has ensured that the elections have provided a more faithful reflex of the opinions of the people than was previously obtained. —“Otago Daily Times.” Idle Hands and Idle Lands. The members of the Auckland Unemployment Committee conferring yes terdav with the Ministers of Labour and of Lands probably came away wondering whether the conference had been worth while. If so. they had some reason for their doubt. The occasion was not used as profitably as it might have been. The Ministerial protests against the unemployment trouble being exploited for political purposes were thoroughly justified, but when they have been made there remains the need for a positive and enterprising programme—particularly a programme of land settlement. There are difficulties in dealing with land settlement, but the Minister concerned is appointed to overcome them, not to magnify them. The Dominion has millions of acrfcs calling for productive occupation and treatment. What can be done by intelligent, intensive cultivation has been abundantly proved. A courageous Minister of Lands would enlarge upon this, and make it the basis 6f a vigorous policy of settlement. Mr M’Lebd says he needs money. Why has the Government not availed itself of the money provided ufidfcr the Em pirc Settlement scheme? It has been going begging for years. It is avail able now. There is no wish that uneconomical schemes should be undertaken; but there is an extreme of caution that is indistinguishable from foolish fear.—“ New Zealand Herald,” Auck- ) land.