SOLDIERS' VOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 5, 1 October 1919, Page 6

SOLDIERS' VOTES

PKOVISION FOR GENERAL ELECTION. The provision to bo made for taking the votes of soldiers at the general election was the subject oi several questions in the House of licpresentatives yesterday afternoon. Mr. J. P. Luke {Wellington North) asked what steps the Government proposed to take in order to record tho votes of soldiers who would be in Great Britain at the time of the general election.

The Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) replied that he hoped all the koops would be. landed in Now Zealand before the general election took place. A return placed before him a few days' ago showed that there were only 20il0 men remaining in Britain, and none at all in Egypt. The Government had had the matter under very careful consideration, and a Bill had been-prepared dealing with what admittedly w«s a very .difficult problem. If necessary this Bill would be introduced. The Hon. A. M. Myers (Auckland East) said that two transports would not reach New Zealand before December 12, which had been mentioned as the date, of tho general election. Provision would us required for taking the votes of the men on these transports. Sir -James Allen replied that' ho was not aware of the date of arrival of 'these transports. The Bill would bo produced if it were required • Mr. G. W. Forbes (fl urnnui) mentioned tho returned men who had not'completed twelve months' residence in their present districts. . The Prime Minister said the Bill provided for such cases. Instructions luiil been given.to the law draughtsmen on II Mi P °T t M. Wilford (Hulk): They will not lie able to sign applications for enrolment. until the Bill is passed. Mr. Massey: No. There is plenty of time. ■