DEFAULTERS' LIST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 180, 25 April 1919, Page 4

DEFAULTERS' LIST

TO BE PUBLISHED SHORTLY 1

' THE RIGHT TO VOTE Cabinet has agreed to the publication of the defaulters' list. This means that Cabinet has come to a decision 011 the report of the commission which some time ago investigated the merits of the cases of those religious objectors who were imprisoned for refusing to'serve in the Expeditionary Force, The object of that commission was to advise the Minister of Defence as to whether' it would be proper for him to cxercise his discretionary power under .the Act of last session, of removing from the defaulters' list anv objectors who could show that'they had good reasons influencing them in refusingto bear arms. There were certain questions which had to be reserved for Cabinet, and presumably those questions have now been settled. Sir James Allen stated yesterday that, it was possible that some of the names of persons in'respect of whom favourable recommendations had been received might, not be included in the list. 111 any case, every person whoso name was on the list would have a right to appeal to a stipendiary magistrate. The list is to be published as soon as the Government Printinir Oflicc can get. it out, As soon as it is ready it wilL be gazetted, and .if the list is published, before April 30 it will be the duty of the proper authorities to expunge from the municipal rolls the names of defaulters. One of the punishments imposed by statute upon defaulters is deprivation of civil rights for ten years, so that if the, list should be out in time 110110 of them will have tho right to vote' at the coming local elections on April 30.