LICENSING POLL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 150, 20 March 1919, Page 5

LICENSING POLL

ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS. The Aotiug-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) made a further statement yesterday regarding the announcement of the results of the licensing poll. Ho said that the Crown Law Officers had reconsidered the provision of the Act relative to the counting of votes, and they now advised that tho number of votes recorded at each polling-booth might bo publicly announced on the night of tho poll. Sir James Allen i'lded that this did not necessarily mean that the result of tho poli would be known on the night of tho voting. The votes recorded at tho booths could be announced, but - there would bo other votes, recorded by members of the Expeditionary Force, to be received later. DISCHARGED SOLDIERS' VOTES. Tho Acting-Prime Minister-'(Sir James Allen) mado further reference yesterday to the grievanco of returned discharged soldiers who find themselves unable ro vote at tho licensing poll next month, bocause their names aro not on tho roll, lie said that tho number of these men was small. Tlie legal position was 'that only two classes of people could voto at tho poll—those who were on the roll and those who wero members of the Expeditionary Force. Tho Government had taken very special caro to make thai position clear. An articlo distributed to the newspapers at tho end of February warned soldiers that men discharged beforo tho closing of tho rolls on March 6 must get their names on the roll. Enrolment forms were distributed to men on transports. Arrangements hud been mado that discharges duo to be issued after tho closing of .tho rolls should lie held over until April 11, in order that the men might vote as soldiers on leave. The Minister added that the following telegram had been sent by him to ono correspondent in regard to this matter:— "Tho Attorney-General advises that tho courso suggested by you,.namely, tho can. collation of discharges ;md for tho purposo of enabling discharged mombers of tho Expeditionary Force to vote, cannot legally bo adopted. Thero is n£> means by which tho exceptional provisions relat'ivo.to the Expeditionary Force can lie extended to discharged soldiers."