MR. FLETCHER ALARME

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2325, 5 December 1914, Page 6

MR. FLETCHER ALARME

No doubt an uncomfortable realisation of tho fact that ho can expect little support from tho members of the business community accounts for the curious behaviour of tho Wardist candidate (Mr. R. Fleicheh) at his meeting on Thursday night. His assertion that tho action of a number of business people who havo their homes in one electorate and their business quarters in another prefer to enrol in the business quarter, which in several instances happens to be in-the Wellington Central electorate, amounts to roll-stuffing is of course transparently ridiculous. The position simply is that under the law special facilities for enrolment i are afforded to people of itinerant i occupations and trades who would otherwise in many cases find it difficult to exercise their right to vote. These facilities are not confined to commercial travellers, but aro shared also by seamen and shearers, and have been extended latterly to tho members of the theatrical profession. In each case precautions, ar,e taken against any abuse of.the privileges, but within these safeguards some freedom in tho choice of the electorate in which they are to vote is necessarily left to the individual electors. It is quite obvious that the right of these electors to vote could not be safeguarded without leaving them some freedom of choice. Seamen as well as business people have availed themselves freely of the right to enrol in Wellington Central, instead of in other districts, but it suite M'fi. FiiETOHEn's purpose to conveniently ignore, this aspect of the position and to base absurd charges upon tho participation by business people in a privilege which is not merely shared but exceeded by other sections of the community whom he supposes to be sympathetic towards his own political aspirations. Why did he not complain of 500 seamen who have taken out electoral rights in Wellington Central?. Me. Fletchee has succeeded in exposing his clear recognition of the fact that he is looked upon with strong diefavour by the business people of the City, who retain a.vivid recollection of his uncertain and vacillating attitude, as chairman of the Harbour Board, during the great "strike of last year.