VOTES OF SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 25, 24 October 1919, Page 6

VOTES OF SOLDIERS

AT THE COMING ELECTIONS. The problem of how to lake the votes of soldiers at sea on their return voyaga to New' Zealand is one - that has been raised several times in the House during tho present sess'on. . It is hoped that the number of men concerned will be small'., but, as will appear from a statement made by the Prime Minister in the House yosterdny, the difficulties in the way may prove to be insuperable. Mr. Ma'ssey. said that tho Government was most anxious to give tho soldiors wherever they, might bo an opportunity of recording their votes, but there were grave difficulties which it might not be possible to get over. Mr. Holland: You did it for the prohibition poll. Mr. Massey: That was a very easy matter, and wo can do it again for tho prohibition poll. He said that for such a vote there was the same issue for the whole, country. Residence of the soldier in any part of the country did not affect his vote in nuy way. Hut in the Parliamentary elections "the names of every candidate would have to he wirelcsesd to the ship! Also the boundaries of many electorates had changed since last elections, and many soldiers would not know in whioh d'stricts they would be entitled 'to record their vote?, Mr. Holland asked whether it would not l>e pocsnWe. In allow the soldiers to vote for pari ics—Government, Opiwsition, or Labour—as had been done in 1914. Mr. Massey wid that on the face of it thin scheme looked quite simple, but it was not satisfactory. Mr. Holland: How did it work last time? ' . ■ Mr. Massey: "Tt worked very badly.t T was most unsat ; «fnctory." The honourable member, he continued, had referred to. three partes. Rut there were 1 others. What of the great number of Independent candidates who were standing? As a matter, of fact, he had seen references to Independent Labour candidates. And what of that, seo.k'on of Labour which called itself the Pane Labour Party? Mr. TYiiser: Ton can provide a place in Porinia for them. Mr. Mnswy said he line] been pointing out some of the difficulties, but the Government was most anxious to give every soldier his vote.. The d'flicultios in the, wav seemed, however, to ho insupernli'e. Sir .Tcsvph Ward said lhat the matter was one of great importance. At. least there should lie no difficultv about recording the votes of men still in England. iM r. Mnssev: Tes. 'Sir Joseph Ward mid that some of the men would be returning to Ill's country three weeks otter the, elections. Could they not be g'ven a deferred vote? He rira'pd also thnt the F.nglish wives of soldiers who have, just arrived in the co'intrv should be aVowed to vote. Mr. 'Massey: They have no knowledge of the affairs of this country. K ; r Joseph 'Ward said that they had husbands. He expressed a. hope that the soldiers- absent from the country nrght hv some means bo enabled to exercise their votes.

The fnllowinj resolution was snbmitt»d to the Prime Min'ftr-r ).«'» deputation from the National Prohibition flampnicn Executive-.-"Tile Executive Committee of the National Prohibition Campaign reaffirm l ; the prii'ciplo that every soldier is entitle<l tp a vote. Tt mm (he Government to mako provision for this both in the election of candidate* and upon the prohibition itsue. If it be found ini|,ratticable to nrovido sufficient, information to enable a vote to lip recorded upon the election of candidates, the Prohibition Executive is ptronrrlv of opinion that provision should bo made for the snWiers to voto upon the. prohibition issue."