LYTTELTQN ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 7

LYTTELTQN ELECTION.

CLOSING OF THE ROLLS. POLLING PAY, DECEMBER 9; - A quest-ion abowti tlio 'fartMioniiiig Lytteltmi. election was asked, in tlio House of Representatives Inst night by the Loader of tlio Opposition. sSir Joseph Ward said ho hs.d received advice that the returning officer at Lytt.elton had been instructed to closo tlio rolls. The notice had been so short that probably there were many people whoso ihamc-s were, not on the roll, and ho would suggest that in order to give these' people an opportunity of recording their votes the registration of tlio death of Mr. Laurenson should be postponed in order that the issue of the writ might be delayed.

The lion. W. F. Massey said ho did not know whether it would ha possible to do what tlio lion, gentleman suggest--ctl, 'though he agreed that everybody should have a chance of getting on tlifl roll. His duty, howevor, ended wlieii no moved that'the writ be issued in ii\<t ordinary way. Then it became- a matt-ef for tlie Department to proceed, Hfl thought the writ had been issued, ,ihd, if so. ho did' not belioveit could.be recalled. .He 'would submit the question to the Crown Law Officers. When the House was sitting it was not usual to take up much time with elections, hut when the' House was not sitting there was not the same urgency. He would inquire into the matter and let the lion, gentleman know what could lie done. The writ for the LvHeltou by-election has been issued, and is returnable Mfore December 23. It is understood that the election will lake place on Tuesday, week, December 9. Similar dispatch' was shown in lUiiiift tlio C'liristehtireh North vacancy after tiro death of the lato Mr. T„ K. Taylor on July 27, 191]. In that instance,the writ was issued on August 3,. Jflll, and was returnable en August 31. Tlw election took ulaoe on August IV. _ '. Tlio Prime Minister subsequently _ in-, formed n. reporter that ho was advised thai there was no- power, to recall tins writ as suggested' by Sir 'Joseph' Ward.! The ordinary course would have to'hi? followed. (By f eleßraph. u Pross Assoiiatlbn.V ' Ghristohuroh, November 24. ' The General Labourers' Union hat. nominated Mr. J. li. Lajironsnnl (brother of the. late member) a*> the official Liberal candidate for LyUellon., Mr. W. Badcliffe and Dr. Thacker .will also stand.'., Protest's are being made, about the closing of tlio rolls last night before the .I'Hi'o.biie.nt was. eoinpletfid:.:,.