SOLDIERS' VOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 84, 5 October 1940, Page 10

SOLDIERS' VOTES

ELECTORAL LAW

AMENDMENT PASSED

New Zealanders serving with the Forces overseas are now legally entitled to vote for candidates for Parliament or at 'licensing polls held in the Dominion, to be nominated as candidates for Parliament, or be appointed to the Legislative Council, the Electoral Amendment Bill having been passed by both Houses of -Parliament yesterday afternoon.

When the Bill came up for its second reading in the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) said he was sure that every-; one would agree that the men who" went overseas should have the right to vdte or stand for Parliament, and consequently he did not think there would be any opposition to the Bill. The Bill also safeguarded the salaries of members of Parliament serving with the Forces. The Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. A. Hamilton): Hasn't that been done already? ■

Mr. Fraser said that was so, but the Bill made statutory provision for the payment ot salaries ■to members of Parliament and the Legislative Council. Mr. Fraser suggested that there should not be a second-reading debate, but that any details that required ex-, planation. could be dealt with in Convj mittee.

Mr. Hamilton said that he agreed that the House would appreciate the Bill and he did not think it could be criticised. The measure was designed to meet legal requirements; and the Opposition had no objection to it. The Government was particularly anxious that the Bill should be passed at once, Mr. Fraser said, because it would safeguard the rights of , any soldier who wished to be nominated for the vacant Waipawa seat. The Bill was read a second time, put through Committee without discussion, and passed. The Legislative Council then met and put the Bill through all stages. -