LYTTELTON BYELECTION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14834, 27 November 1913, Page 7

LYTTELTON BYELECTION.

.:■ . ♦ FIXED FOR DECEMBER 9th.

QUESTION OF ROLLS.

(bteciai. to "the press.") WELLINGTON, November 26. The writ for tho Lyttolton by-elec-tion has been issued, and is returnable before December 23rd. It is understood that tho election will take place oa Tuesday week, December 9th. • This fipeedy course followe the exainplo of Christchuroh North after the death of &r Taylor. In that instance the writ was issued ...on August 3rd, 1911, and wae returnable on August 31st. Tho election took place on Atlguit 17th. In the House this evening Sir Joseph Ward raised a question About tho rolls for the election. He understood, ho said, that on the previous evening the electoral officer at Lyttelton received instructions to close the rolls. This, he believed, would prevent many people from getting their names placed on the roll/and to secure that he K-onld suggest to the Prime Minister that tho "Gazette" notice of the death cf the lato Mr Laurenson should be postponed in order to give them all a sufficient time to get. upon the roll. In reply, Mr Massey eaid ho did not know whether it was possible to do what was suggested. Ho agreed that everyone who was entitled to tho privilege should have his or her riatae recorded on the roll. His duty and tho doty of the Government ended when he moved the motion that tho writ be issued and ordered away; then it became the duty of the Department to carry out the election. Ho thought the tmt had been issued, and if ii nad been, issued he did not think it wos possibJp to go back upon it. It was o point, m any case, for the Crown law office, but when tho Bouse wn s eittint; it was not us;inl-to tab© up too much timolol- ati election. He would make enquiries, however, and let Sir Joseph Ward Troow whafe could Be done. NO POWER JO RECALL THE -. ••.■■•..'-,'.■.;, ;. WRIT. ■• ■ -■.•:.. After making enquiriee,' the Prime Minister mforaecLyour representative this; evening, that there was no power to recall the .writ ha suggested by S3r *<^lMari-.v-';.4to-.fating y war&' would have to be followed.