The Fielding Star. Published Daily. "TUESDAY, DEC. 5, 1893. "ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS ACT.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 133, 5 December 1893, Page 2

The Fielding Star. Published Daily. "TUESDAY, DEC. 5, 1893. "ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS ACT.

«►_ As it is the intention of tbe Government to give tbe '• Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act 1893" a fair trial, we would urge those electors whose names have beon removed from the roll under the provisions of "The Electoral Act 1893 " for failing to record their votes, to have them replaced at once. This they can do under clause 4 of the Act which says : " Nothing herein contained shall effect the right of any elector whose name shall have been expunged from at any time thereafter sending in a fresh claim for registration on such electoral roll under any of the laws for the time being in force regulating the registration of electors." As a result of the last election, 1391 names have been struck off the Bangitikei roll, and 1450 off the Palmerston roll, of persons who did not exercise the franchise. In order that electors may have access to the roll— that is, the official one— it is provided that there shall be kept at each post office in every district one copy of every printed roll for reference by the public. Doubtless, the Returning officers will issue these as soon as possible, having in view the fact of tbe near approach of the date of the licensing elections. Our contemporary, the Standard, has pointed out that there is one omission in tho Act, and that is— no date has been fixed for the closing of the rolls in connection with the licensing roll. We take it, however, that the same rule which obtains at a general election would apply in this case, and that immediately the returning officer for the district gare notice of an election, tbe rolls would be closed. Clause 16 says : " The Beturning Officer of every licensing district shall appoint some one day within the month of March, 1894, for the taking of the poll, and he shall give sot less than fourteen days notice of the day so appointed.." From this it may be concluded that the rolls will be closed in the first, and certainly not later than the second week in March. As the issues to be then decided are of considerable interest to everyone entitled to vote, we would urge on those who have any doubt on the pomt — as to whether they are on the roll or not — to clear it up with as little delay as possible. Wo are aware that several persons, by their procrastination just before tho general election, deprived themselves of the franchise, and only repouted when it was too 'ate,