REGISTRAR OF ELECTORS

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1460, 22 May 1905, Page 2

REGISTRAR OF ELECTORS

The following telegrams have bsen received from Ministers in regard to tbo ,: : i recent appointment of Begistrar of EleoBy the Chairman of the County (S-Suncil from the Premier—“lnm in receipt of yoar telegram con- j; veying the resolation of your Council in regard to the returning officer and registrar of electors. Thu Colonial Secretary is absent from Wellington, and on his retnrn ill your communication will be placed befora \ him. I fed sure you may rely on his a giving the matter his earnest The suggestion made by the Hon. Mr Carrol to reliove tbo registrar and returning officer, who is also. I learn, Clerk of Court, amongst some of his other duties, is deser- y: J ving of consideration, arid bound to have j* j weight with the Colonial Secretary.—B. J. J \ Seddon.’’

By Aft David Whyte, from Sir Joseph Ward—"l was unable to reply to your telegram before leaving Wellington jester-y day. So for as my enquiries have gone there was no intention of effecting any change detrimental in any way to Mr Johnstone. It was some time ago decided by Cabinet tbß dual positions- of regis- , tear of electors and returning officer should not be held by the same person in various l centres, and that Mr Johnstone should be ' the returning officer in Gisborne and a fresh registrar of electors appointed. Personally, I don’t know either Mr Johnstone or Mr Keefer, and unless there is anythibg detrimental to Mr Keefer’s character or standing the change should not work disadvantagoously. As the Minister in ebargo of the Department, my desire is to see that a complete roll is furnished, and that no such thing as partiality is allowed, and shall bo quite prepared to accept from you nomination of a fair proportion of those to £be employed in plaoing names npon. the roll,—J. G. Ward.” - -V

n Mr Whyta forwarded the following > reply—“ In reply to your telegram, tha | chief ground of objection is that Mr John- j stone’s removal will be detrimental to the interests of the election ; moreover, aprin-'. ciple is involved which affects the whole - colony, namely, that of removing a trained, trustworthy, efficient and experienced officer of the civil service from an import-i ant post at a critical juncture, and replacing him by an inexperienced outsider. Cabinet's decision to separate the office of registrar of electors is contrary expressed wish of Parliament, as inSSlatecL*' in the Electoral Act, 1902, section SO, subsection 4, which enacted, notwithstanding Cabinet’s dosire to the contrary, that the offioes may be held conjointly.— D. Whyte.” u By His Worship the Mayor, from Sir 5 ?". G. Ward—--111 am in receipt of your resolution, for which I thank you. The representations j* will have consideration.—J. G. Ward.”^ By the Mayor from the Hon. James Carroll:— “Ko yonr wire conveying resolution passed 3t public meeting in regard to the change that has been made in the rests-, trarship of electors for the Waiapu distrifet. The subject will be' considered on the return of the Colonial Secretary from the South. lam sorry myself that any prejudice or feeling should have been imported into the matter. In view of the population, and the number of new people that have come to our district during tha last few years, together with the general spread of settlement into the back blocks, it may fairly bo assumed that the ""work thrown upon the registrar: has correspondingly increased. In my opinion it will take a goo'd man all his time for tbanext five months to compile as near as possible a complete and satisfactory -roll." The change was therefore made in order to have a registrar that could give more time to the carrying out of those duties than Mr Johnstone, who is already saddle^,with a number of offices that, necessarily hampers him from giving that outdoor - attention which the nature of -the‘ wort sometimes requires. I have the greatest respect for Mr Johnstone, in everjV way, and had I thought he would have objected to any action relieving him of a large proportion of heavy work for whioh he got nc pay, I should, certainly, so far as J wai concerned, have considered his wishes, bui it never occurred to me that that was likel’ to be the case. With regard to any appra hension on the part of any section!of thi community that politics formed the%mtiv( for the change, in order to place'tHein at t disadvantage, there is not the slightest grounds for it.- That is a line of procedorr I could not contribute to.-—J; Carroll."