ALLEGED ROLL STUFFING

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 269, 6 August 1908, Page 9

ALLEGED ROLL STUFFING

. STATEMENT BY'MR. POOLE. • ' A question as' to whethor the Government had app.oinced any canvassers to placo peoplo on tiio electorol rolls was asuod in- the liouso this afternoon by, Mr. i'oolo. He stated that it Was alleged chat - canvassers representing tliemsolves. to bo Government officials:, wero going around certain electorates endeavouring to. aacerwin the views of. tho • bleotors 011 the licensing - question,', and promising to enrol them, but neglecting-.to.do c so 11, their views prpved to bo in .-favour, of.no-licenso. ■

' -"Mo canvassers have .so, far. beon appointed," said tlio Primo..Ministen

Mr. Poolo. said.that*the reply'was satisfactory, as it gave the lie to the irresponsible and unprincipled persons who" had .been'going around stating that they .had Ji.een, ongaged by the Government' to "secure 1 * names : for tho electoral roll, 'l'heso peoplo, he asserted, wero being employed by the liquor "trade to put on tho roll tho; names;-, of . those who woro favourable to tho trade, ali'd to', ignore tho claims-of those who' thoy belioved woro going to vote; for. no-licenso. Deception- was being practised ,in ordpr.. that power .of- a certaiiv section of the .community might ..bp mainied.'' ''Complaint's' htid 'cb'mo to him from 1 tho nprth 'that, tho misroprosentations referred to' 1 liad ' been made and -were ?till boing mado by certain professional agitators : who -claimed ,the . endorsepient of .the Government for their action- Hp,' admitted tliat the - canvassers, for the' no-license party .wero ' not--particularly :, &nxi'ous : "to 'put .. the names of ■ liquor-advocates on-the --roll,- but thoy did'not rosortv.to doceptioli'. or' misrepresentation by/ claiming 'to ,-bo under tho 'sheltering wing- of the Government. He asked for fair play- for people who wore required to obtain a tromondous ■ majority to- obtain the reform they Wero fighting- for.. •Ho hoped that' the matter would bo inquirod into, and punishment meted out to tho offenders.. .