THE ELECTORAL CENSUS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1175, 10 July 1911, Page 4

THE ELECTORAL CENSUS.

AND THE ENROLMENT rORM.

It has been noticed by some Wellington householders that the electoral census papers which they have been required to fill ill convey a demand for more information than is necessary for ti.j purpose of enrolment. There is a column in which tho head of the house is desired to state in what relationship—such as "wife," "son," "lodger," or "servant"—each person in the house stands to him. Yet this particular class of domestic detail has never yet appeared on any of the electoral rolls, and does not form any jiart of anybody's qualification to vnte. Neither does tho -Act under which the electoral census is taken seem to impose upon the householder any obligation to supply Ihis special item. Subsections (2) and (3), of Section (i of the Legislature Amendment Act, I'JIO, are as follow:—

Every master or mistress of any licensed publichouse, lodginshousc, or private dwellinghou.se, shall, on the application of an enrolment ofiicer, appointed for the purposes of the compilation of tho rolls, give all such information as (o the names, occupations, and qualifications for enrolment of all persons residing or lodging in, that house as the officer may request, and the master or mistress is able to Every person who, on being requested as aforesaid, fails to faithfully give such information, is liable to a fine of. five pounds.

The important thing from the elector s point of view is to get on the roll, and for this purpose, if he is not already enrolled, or if he has changed his address, he must fill in an enrolment form and sign it in the presence of a qualified witness, as stated on the form, lhe enrolment form is quito a different document from the census paper. It is similar to. the one issued three years ago. .