LYTTELTON ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1918, 28 November 1913, Page 7

LYTTELTON ELECTION.

' DELAY IMPOSSIBLE. SECOND BALLOT TO BE HELD. Tlio Prime Minister Was again asked »y (sir Joseph Ward in the House of Keprescnfaiives yesterday whether tlio Jij'ttcltou election could bo delavcd in oner that Imiher electors might enrol. J no I nmo Minister said that the writ bad been issued, and could not possibly bo recalled. Hj s information was that the election must proceed in the ordinary w:?y. The writ was issued on Tuesday evening last.

hir Joseph Ward submitted that this was a easo whore something ought to bo liouo. Hundreds of poopio had failed to enrol. It was alleged that "on» side knew what the intentions of the (.'ovoriimoiit were, and got upon the roll m good lime. It would bo a very had thiiu; if there was any jerry-manderiiig with elections in this couifky. Thorc was goniß to be a very great deal "of ieoling about the Lyttelton election li<r suggested to the Prime Minister that IhV should mal.ro the date of the election' December IS, and bring i„ a short Bill' w allow tho rolls to bo closed about De-< comber 10, If a second ballot were' necessary it could then be held on De-: comber 22.

Mr Massey: That would not giro time- for Hie writ to bo returned" tar Joseph Wrtrd siikl'tiro jjbsiiioii was a very unusual one. Tiro issue of the writ had taken everyone bv. surprise. .1 ho Minister of Finance had ~„fc t upon record that the reason for V aymg tine Orey.election was that tlio lobs were not completed. Ho was assured by people of high standing in Lvt, be tni'f ~,lß* ^B werooffMr. "Russell: Have the rolls been printed since last election ? Mr. Massey said that ho was not in a' position to answer tho qnesliot but he was iniormcd that in kyttdto* the >os we re H p to dale. The JwnoiiAblii gentleman wowild recognise that in tho case ol a by-election it was impossiblo to please every member of the public iho ordinary course had 'been' folloWd'. It there had been any delay tho first tiling said would have been that tha election was- toing kept-back .until, tiro' repeal of the Second. Rallot had passed into law, how they were told that'there had been undue haste, lit tho caso l of the Cliristchurch North -by-election m J.J.11 tho 'vacancy occurred on July *h and tho clcctiaK was held on August' , Mr. Russell; You are one day quicker m tins case. .;;,.;,:. Mr, Massey: That is tho only difference. » Mr. Russell: Now will you compard it wah the Grey? : • Mr. Massey: The honourable gentleman has got Uray on the brain." Tho Urey. election, he said, was delayed only to give time, for tho completion- of tho rolls. It took, place on .the, eadiest; possible date. ■ ' ' n After fomo further talk, Mr. JFasffrv' said that ho wotikl tako Sir Joscplj' Wards suggestion into consideration,,' but could not give an answer offhand.

SECOND BALUOTi 4 REPEAL BILLIfOT TO APPLY. \ ■Tho Legislature Amendment Bill,' under which the Second Ballot Art is repealed, was finally passed l by the Legislative Council yesterday, -and in the ordinary eows-e tho Hill would ho assented to hy the Governor, and hocomo law, before the Lytklton election takes place. On this point the Prim* Mmsste-r (the Hon. W. V. Masscy) liiada a. statement in the House of Hopw>sontsittves last uight. Ho stated that the Government jukl had the matter under consideration, and had decided that as the vacancy at LyMelton had. occurred when the 'Bill was before the- House-, the erlcction should be conducted under tho present law. They thought that this would bo tho proper thing under the circumstances, and they r3id not desire to talio advantage of TJio passage of tho Bill. In reply to a query from 31 r. Bussell, lie said the Bill would cither not bo sent on to His Excellency for a day or rtwo, or else he would bring downtlw necessary amendment by Governor's Message, But in any ease the nromlsa lie was giving to the House would ba given effect to. (Hear, hear.) .Mr. Bussell (with a chuckle)! You have lost flip seat.

Mr. S.lassey: We do tlie right thing under any circumstances., FIGURES AT LAST ELECTION. The polling figures at Lyttelton on the- occasion of uie last genera.! election were as follow:*— ft. Laurenson (Liberal) 4,160 C. Cook .(Independent) 2,081 In tho liquor poll. 3216 votes wens cast for Coiitinua.ficß, and 2961 for NoLieense; ;J203 votes- were cast for National Prohibition, and 2SSG against. {By Mbgr-aDU—Prtfes AReooiattenA Chrisichuroli, November 2". It is stated that, the Labour candi* date for Lyttelton will bo selected nn Friday night. Tho.delay is due te flic cumbrous ballot system. The sudden closing of.the rolls- on Tuesday is tire subject of Labour and Liberal protests. Many completed enrolment forms nro said to have been shut out. Mr. Siiier, the Government candidate, opens his campaign to-night.