ELECTORS WHO CHANGE THEIR ADDRESSES

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 March 1947, Page 5

ELECTORS WHO CHANGE THEIR ADDRESSES

MUNiCiPAL CONFERENCE DISCUSSES ROLLS (P.A.) Rotorua, March 5. When the Municipal Conference resumed, Mr. M. iE. Lyons (Christchurch) .moved, and Hon. W. J. Rogers (Wanganui) seconded, a Christchurch remit that the Government be requested to introduce regulations under the Local Elections Amendment Act requiring registrars of electors to advise appropriate local bodies of any new enrolment or change of name or address which may come to their notice, and which would affect local bodies’ rolls.

Mr. Lyons said that in view of the assurance of Mr. Parry (Minister of Internal Affairs) in his opening address that electoral officers would be Instructed to consult with local body returning officers, the motion was probably unnecessary. However, it is incumbent on an elector who had changed his address to notify the registrar, and it was necessary for local bodies, in order to make a “perfectly rotten law" work, to have the fullest co-operation.

Mr. J. A. C. Allum (Auckland) moved an amendment that the question be referred to the executive to take any action deemed necessary. They did not wish to prevent people from voting, he said, but it was undesirable to give any colour to a suggestion that they approved of the new legislation. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Will Appleton (Wellington). They did not want to adopt a "dog in the manger" attitude, as was indicated by the amendment, declared Mr. E. H. Andrews (Christchurch). They were subject to legislation, and it was incumbent on them to try to make the best of it instead of saying “We won't play." 'the amendment was carried by 61 votes to 51.