SOLDIERS' VOTING

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2247, 5 September 1914, Page 8

SOLDIERS' VOTING

BILL BEFORE THE COUNCIL A CLOSE DIVISION THE MEASURE BECOMES LAW

Tho Expeditionary Forces Voting Bill was considered by the Legislative Council, yesterday, when it 'was received from tho House of Representatives and read a first time. The Hon. H. >D. Bell claimed urgency for' the 'Bill, and moved tho second reading at once. Mr. Bell said that tho Bill had been agreed upon by the three parties in the House, and he would ask tho Council not to amend it or delay its passage, as it was 'urgently necessary that it should pass that day. An amendment would be. necessary in tho method of taking the licensing poll of the soldiers, bocause it was proposed later to alter the form of voting paper for the ordinary Licensing poll..

Bill Roundly Condemned. The Hon. 0. Samuel condemned tho Bill roundly. "I never saw a Bill of which I more strongly disapproved than this Bill," he said. "I never saw a Bill more false to the true principles of representation of the people than this Bill." He argued that the proposed proxy method, by which soldiers going abroad would empower others to exercise votes for them in their absence, would havo been an infinitely better method of avoiding the disfranchiselncnb of members of the Expeditionary Force. His own opinion was, however, that 'no clumsy expedient should have been attempted to give votes to men who wore going away from New Zealand, putting out of their minds all thought of party politics, as they, were putting out of their minds homo arid triends and other'things infinitely more dear than were politics. His'strongest objection to the Bill was that it recognised . Government, by, party,. andl.by party alone. ' "' ■■■■■■" ■■"■. " ,Tho Hon. J. T. Paul said that ho did not agree with the idea that hecause the measure effected the other Chamber tho Council should hesitate before ..'altering it. Ho would like to see the Bill thrown out, or altered, n-nd ho b(ilieved ! that the' proxy system would hayo been the best. Hβ did not aeireo with Mr. Samuel that some votes would not bo used; ho believed that all the votes cast would be used, and that there would be a great deal of juggling in dealing with some of the votes. The Bill would operate in the most peculiar way, and create the most peculiar circumstances ever created in a British community. Objections to Proxy Voting., i Replying, Mr. Bell sa.'d that proxy voting would be an abrogation of the whole- system of voting by• ballot. Jt meant the creation of a precedent of proxy voting, and that would be, unwise. He would have preferred the original Bill brought down by the Government, but that Bill had not met with the wish of the majority of the other Chamber. Mr. Samuel: In a material degree these are proxies to the Leader of the Government, the Leader of the Opposition, and so on, Mr. Bell: Very well, if they are proxies, why is the honourable gentleman objecting to what he advocates? :The second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill was then committed.' ■ Method of Voting, . In committee, 'Mr. Bell'said that it was not possible to set out in the Bill everything about' the •. taking of the votes. Some men were absent' from camp, and some had uot yet reached camp.' but tho majority of the votes would be taken in camp on some certain day. The electoral officers were as hard at work as possible 'on the matter. Twenty of these officers had gone to one camp, and a largo number of officers had gone to another: Mr. Paul said that he would vote against the measure- because it- was dangerous. Mr. Samuel: So -null I. . The' Hon.' J.MacGregor thought that the Council would do tho Government a kindness by defeating the measure. The necessary amendment indicated by Mr. Bell was made, and. the vhird reading of the Bill was then proceeded to. A division resulted in favour of the measure by 14 votes to 11. Theayesworo: Bell, Aitken, Louisson, Ma--gtnmty, Wigrani, Ormond, Beehan fukora, Earnshaw, Moore, Collins Fisher, Morgan. Hardy. The Noes were: Bailey, George, Paul, Mac Gibbon, Jones, Samuel, Parata, Baldie M'Gregor, Harris, Thompson. The Bill was then passed. VOTE TO BE TAKEN TO-DAY. In the House of Representatives last night the Minister of Defence (Hon. J. Allen) stated that the voting at all military camps would bo taken to-day. Tho Y.M.C.A. marquee is a popular resort in tho Awapuni camp. Awapimi: Mr. E. M. Ryan, who had experience of active campaigning in the South African war, is in charge. Since tho opening of the caiiip over 1500 magazines and papers have heen on tho tables of tho rea'ding tent, and the Field Hospital has also been supplied with literature. Over 4000 letters havo been forwarded through the tent by tho men in training. Ten concerts have been arranged, several of them given by Palmorston North ajso vocal competitions, boxing competitions, etc., havo heen held, these social entertainments having been attended by 5600 men. Over 20,000 visits havo been paid to the marquee by tho lnon at various times. Tho reli"imis work has not been neglected. Ten short services have been arranged, with total attendances of 2220, giving an average of over 220 per service. Mr. Ryan spoaks in glowing terms of the behaviour of tho men in camp, and considers that as a body they will do honour to the connfry they are to represent on the battlelields of Europe. Any comforts for tho •men in camp or at the forts may bo forw,!, Mv ed r, trough the locut association, Willis Street.