REGISTRAR OF ELECTORS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1458, 19 May 1905, Page 3

REGISTRAR OF ELECTORS.

TELEGRAMS FROM MINISTERS,

In connection with the rooent appoint- | mont of Mr A. Koofor ns Registrar of Eleotors in plaoo of Mr G. J. Johnstone, the following telegram was reoeived by Mr Whyte, organising secretary ok' the New Zealand Alliance, in reply to a protest in regard to the removal of Mr Johnstone :

“In reply to your wire of yesterday, upon enquiry I find that among other j changes which were being made it was considered that Mr Johnstone’s servioos should be utilised as returning officer, for the reason that no stipendiary magistrates are to be returning officers in any part of the colony. Another registrar of eleotors was consequently necessary.—J. G. Ward.” I

Mr Whyte sent the following further ielegrams :

“In reply to your telegram, Johnstone is not a magistrate, only clerk of Court. ' Gives satisfaction to all sections of community. Indignation meeting advertised. Please reply.” “ Continuing my last telegram. On further investigations I find that you are conflicting the Bill of 1902 with the Act of 1902. Compare the Bill, section 29, subseotion 4, with the Act, section SO, subsection 4. The Act states office of registrar and 1 returning officer may certainly be both held by the one man. Johnstone conducted both offices at last election to the satisfaction of all parties. He is competent, trusted, and experienced. We remember Invercargill. Wire reply.— David Whyte.” The following telegram was received from the Hon. J. Carroll “ Your wire re j Johnstone. We will have the services of Mr Johnstone in another capacity, that of returning officer. It was therefore necessary to refill his place as registrar of electors by another | appointment, as it was considered the duty devolving upon the registrar of eleotors was so wide and' extensive it would impose too muoh work upon Mr Johnstone in connection with his other duties. I quite endorse what you say, that Mr Johnstone was an excellent and capable officer, and fulfilled his duties while registrar with satisfaction to everyone. I feel sure that in his successor we will have an equally competent and impartial officer.—J. Carroll.”

THE INDIGNATION MEETING.

About a hundred and twenty persona attended the indignation meeting held at the Theatre Royal last evening, although no doubt many more would have attended but for the boisterous state of the weather. Mr Andrew Graham proposed that bis Worship the Mayor should take the chair. Mr Townley demurred for a time, but after unsuccessful efforts had been made to persuade Captain Tucker or Mr Lissant Clayton to preside, the Mayor stepped forward and took the chair amidst applanse. The Chairman road the advertisement calling the meeting, and stated that the surprise was very considerable when the people of Gisborne found that Mr Johnsione had been relieved of the position of registrar here. It was at first understood that the whole business in connection with the elections was to be taken out of Mr Johnstone’s hands, but telegrams received that day stated that he was to be retained as returning officer, Mr Keefer being registrar. He did not know whether this fact would influence the movers of the meeting or not. They were all prepared to express their entire satisfaction with the manner in whioh Mr Johnstone had carried out the last election. (Applause.) In the past irregularities had occurred in many localities, and they wished as far as possible to avoid them in the Waiapu. He did not know that it mattered much who prepared the rolls so long as they had a returning officer as well acquainted with the duties a 9 was Mr Johnstone. As desired, he had convened the meeting, and he hoped the audience wonld accord a patient hearing to the speakers. Mr J. East moved the following resolution :—“That considering the near approach of a general election this meeting respectfully protests against the removal from office of the present Registrar of Electors, Mr G. J. A. Johnstone, whose experience and knowledge of the duties are such as to necessitate his retention in the said capacity.’’ Speaking to the resolution, Mr East said that it would be superfluous for him to say anything in regard to the gentleman who was about to be replaced by another. They had many instances of Mr Johnstone’s capabilities, and they desired that he should be retained. They only asked-for fair British piay, and nothing else. There was something about the whole thing that was most uncanny. Quoting the Scotch proverb, " Better the de’il you know than the one you do not,” the speaker added, “ Hot that I infer for a moment that Mr Johnstone is a de’il any more than I would insult Mr Keefer by saying that he- is an aDgel..” Bay that morning's Times they were told that Mr Johnstone’s duties were so was necessary to relieve , him of some'of them, but perhaps they | were not aware that many of the duties did not carry remuneration. Mr Johnstone for instance did not receive remuneration for the position of registrar of births, deaths, etc. He did not receive extra pay for beiog registrar, but still they had some one put into the office at a salary of at least 4200 or 4250 a year. The duties of the office would be a mere nothiog for a period of 2£ years out of three years. He thought it would have been bettor if Mr Johnstone had been given an assistant instead of the position of registrar being taken from him. Mr Whyte, organising secretary of the New Zealand Alliance for the East Coast, seconded the motion. He had had considerable experience in the South as organising secretary of the New Zealand Alliance and he intended to show the audience how important it was that a change should not be made in the appointment of registrar at the present juncture. He did not come that evening prepared to deal personally with Mr Keefer,-who was ; a gentleman they did not know personally. I He only desired to deal with a principle, namely that of taking an experienced and trustworthy government officer out of a public position and pitchforking into that position an outsider, whoso experience could not in any way compare with that of Mr Johnstone. He disagreed with the

chairman in regard to the statement that it did not matter who was registrar so long as they had a returning officer thoroughly well acquainted with the duties. Continuing, Mr Whyte at some length detailed to the meeting the difficulties the Alliance had had to cope with in the past in regard to irregularities at elections, and these they wished to avoid in the future. If they, got a clean roll in the Waiapu electorate at the next election no-license would without doubt be carried ; but if they got a crooked roll they might be outvoted. To prevent the roll being stuffed, and in order to seß that every name that should be removed from the roll was removed, it was absolutely necessary they should retain the present registrar in office. He hoped all present would do their utmost to this end. Captain Tucker strongly supported the motion, paying a high tribute to the efficiency displayed by Mr Johnstone. The resolution “was unanimously adopted. Mr Whyte proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by the Kov. Hounseli :—“ That this meeting, after considering Mr Carroll’s letter re registrar of electors, considers that the desires of the administration would be best attained by relieving Mr Johnstone of the duties of registrar of births, deaths, and marriages, and retaining his 301 vices in the combined capacities of registrar of electors and returning officer, thereby conserving the highest interests of the doctors of Waiapu

at a period suoh as this bordering on an oloofcion.” Mr A. Graham regretted that tho wot evening had prevented many of tho oountry people from attending tho mooting. Not that they were all prohibitionists, as this was a mattor that affeotod tho Opposition as much as it did tho prohibitionist party. It was aots such as thoso that oausod many to look with suspioion on tho Soddon Government. Mr Roofer was a strong partyito, and the Govornmont should havo avoided appointing him. Mr Lissant Clayton proposed that oopies of tho telegrams should bo wired that even* ing to tho Promior, ond Eons. Word and Carroll, remarking, “ You can send them, I thoy will not oost us anything." (Laughter). I A vote of thanks to tho choir terminated tho meeting. I