PREPARING THE ROLLS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2174, 12 June 1914, Page 6

PREPARING THE ROLLS

PROCEDURE EXPLAINED ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WAY' From inquiries addressed yesterday to tho Minister in charge of tno .Electoral Departraout (tho Hon. F. M. B, Fisher) it was learned that tho whole of tho procedure in connection with the purging of tho electoral rolls and tho enrolment of electors to be undertaken by tho Post Ofh'co during next month is well under way. Instructions aro now being issued to registrars of electors to.prepare tho necessary data for tho Post Office to undertako tliis particular work. The system to bo ,adopted ( will bo in the form of a post-card containing the name of tho elector, his registered address and occupation. Take, for instance, those to be dealt with, by the letter-carfiors. These officers will take the cards out on their rounds, and in the event of tho person to whom the card is addressed still residing at tho address given on the card, tho postal official will endorso tho card to that effect. In the caso of an elector having left that address, and still residing within' tho electorate, his new address will bo endorsed on the card. If the elector has removed to another 'electorate, and the Post Ofh'co holds his )iow address, tho fresh address will bo endorsed on the card. If an elector' has left the district, and his present address is ' not known, tho Post Office will endorse that fact, oii the card. Tho cards will subsequently bo returned to tlio various registrars of electors by tho Postal Department. The registrars, on Teceipt of caids, will take tho necessary action under the Legislature 'Act to deal with all changes of , addresses, and of those whose whereabouts are unknown. The method to be 'adopted'''ensures tho verification of every name registered on the' electoral rolls 'throughout, the Dominion. ,

The enrolling of electors will also be Undertaken by ■ postmasters and lettercarriers similarly with the purging of the- roll. Theso officers will be authorised by registrars of electors to witness the signatures of claimants for enrolment. As an example of how it is proposed to carry'out the work, each letter-carrier on his walk will bo supplied with pads of enrolment forms, and will ascertain from evory householder in his particular district whether thoro arc any. members of his household not nn the roll. If ho finds there are, he will_ immediately take steps to secure their enrolment. . If, however, this cannot be effected at the time, tbo necessary forms and addressed envelopes will be left at the house for attention ly those concerned before the. letterbarrier makes his next call.

It is also interesting to note that the enrolment form provides that when a claimant fills in such form he ie required to state on it whether he is already registered .in another electorate. In such a .case, the registrar receiving the claim takes immediate action to Slave th'o name of tho elector in question, removed from the former roll. It Vrill thus bo seen that this practically amounts to a double check ' upon the purging of tho roll.

. The Minister added that registrars wore'beingspecially instructed that the !enrolmont of electors by themselves was under no circumstances to cease at any period during the purging of. the roil by the Post Office, tho closing date for which ,is.fixed by,the Legislature Act as tho day on Which the writ issues. _ Further than this, political organisations are ,not -to,. understand that the new method in any way"restricts their operations. Enrolment by the various organisations will go on as usual.