RAILWAY EMPLOYEES

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14235, 9 December 1919, Page 5

RAILWAY EMPLOYEES

FACILITIES TO VOTE

Last week Mr J. A. Young, M.P., at the instance of a deputation of railway men who waited upon him, pointed out to Mr Massey that a circular letter had been sent out from the Department requesting employees away from their home electorates on election day to take out absent voters' permits. H-3 urged that the proposal would, if strictly carried out, disfranchise a large number of men by reason of the itinerant nature of their work, and for whom it would be too late to fix up the permits. Mr Young asked that the Department lie instructed, as at former elections, to afford every facility to employees to vote in their own districts. Mr Massey replied that lie would give instructions to see that every opportunity was afforded railway employees to vote as hitherto, and at his FranktOn meeting last night Mr Young read a lengthy telegram, received yesterday from the Prime Minister, in which he said that explicit instructions had been issued, and every possible facility will be afforded to employers to record their votes subject to carrying on the necessary train services. All employees are to be granted leave for the purpose of voting when temporarily working at a distance from their polling places. Opportunity, wherever possible, is to be given employees to return in ample time to record their voles. All workshops throughout the Dominion are to be closed during the afternoon of polling day, save for unavoidable night work. No' deductions or stoppage of pay is to be made in respect to time lost recording votes. The only variation on previous years is that members under transfer to other districts have been advised to obtain absent voters' permits Mr Massey added that the arrangements made will enable every man who so desires to record his vote.