TO-MORROW’S DUTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19445, 3 November 1925, Page 6

TO-MORROW’S DUTY

POINTS FOR ELECTORS THE ABSENT VOTERS. Given a fine day to-morrow, the pollling for the election of a new Parlia[rnent of New Zealand and on the licensing issue should constitute a record. So 'far as Wanganui is concerned the indi cations certainly point that way. The inumber of electors on tho Wanganui [roll this year is greater than it has .ever been, and it is anticipated that the compulsory registration will result in heavy voting throughout the day. In the city tho hours of polling are between 9 o’clock in the morning and 7 o’clock in the evening, but in tho adjacent electorates—Rangitikci, Batea. Oroua and Waimarino—the booths will close at 6 p.m. The polling booths in the city ar*' 'stationed at the following convenient [points:— The Methodist Schoolroom. Aramoho. [ The Town Hall. Castlecliff. 1 Smith’s Buildings, Rangiora, Street. 1 Castlecliff. [ St. Andrew’s Schoolroom, Gloucester ■Street. The Town Hall, Gonville. Wilson’s motor shed, Puriri Street Gonville Junction. The Methodist Schoolroom, K ■?. I Street. Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui. The Drill Hall, Maria Place. The Schoolroom, St. John’s Hill. Benbrook’s Store, Somme Para b Upper Aramoho. Y.M.C.A. Building, Victoria Avon-.-Electors who will be absent from their electorates on. polling day should have no difficulty whatever in record ing their votes either for the election of members of Parliament or for the licensing question. Under the provisions of section 13 of the Legislature Amendment Act, 1924, any registered elector may at any time within the hours of polling vote as an ! absent voter at any polling place out I side the district for which he is registered. .It is no longer necessary for an [elector who will be away from his dec* itorate on polling day Io apply for an [absent voter's permit, as was the case at the last general election. If, for example, an ('lector of Wanganui leaves for Wellington to-day and cannot return home till Thursday, ail ho needs to do is to go into a polling place in Wellington and there \<>ie Lt the Parliamentary election for Wanganui and on the licensing question. Every sm-h elector shall on applying to vote outside his own electoral dis trict state to the Deputy Returning Oflicer his full name, his place of resid I cncc and occupation as appearing on the electoral roll of the district i<> i which he is registered. | ]f the Deputy Returning Ol'm I satisfied that the claimant is en.H I to vote as an absent voter, he >1 ad i quire him to make application en ; ‘prescribed form. j On the application being m;i | Deputy Returning Officer is roqun write the names of the candidate I the district for which the elector i. • a [titled to vote, on a blank ballot paper, [which must be detached from the coun I terfoil and handed to the voter to |gether with the voting paper for the [licensing poll, and in the case of no [license districts the voting paper for [the local licensing poll. Voting by declaration is now limited ito persons who have duly registered as I electors, but whose names do not appear on the electoral rolls because* of I clerical errors in the registrar’s office. It is no longer possible for a person :who voted at tho previous election and whose name docs not now appear on the roll, although he has not changed [his address, to vote by declaration. i No Votes In Hospitals. Returning officers will not visit thb [hospitals on tho occasion of this elec Ition in order to receive the votes of patients. A question in regard to this was asked the Prime Alinister shortly before Parliament prorogued, when Mr Coates stated that the medical staffs of the hospitals had expressed decided objections to votes being taken at their institutions, affirming that it would lead to an upsetting of the patients. Therefore, unless sick people were in a fit state to travel to the ordinary polling booth, they would, unfortunately, be unable to exercise their franchise. The election officers express regret that the prohibition of voting in hospitals has had to be decided upon for this ■ reason, but hold that it will not in any way prejudice, candidates or parties, as it will “cut both ways.” .