ELECTORAL REFORM

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9853, 5 November 1924, Page 5

ELECTORAL REFORM

IMPORTANT PROVISIONS IN NEW MEASURE.

CO.MPULSORY ENROLMENT. WELLINGTON, Nov. 1. In moving the second reading of the Legislative Amendment- Bill No. 2, in the House• to-day, Air .Massey said tiie measure contained three important provisions. In tho fir.->t place compu.sorv enrolment- was insisted on. The responsibility for this was placed on tlio electors themselves. In the past the methods auopted to secure complete enrolments had been unsatisfactory and there had been complaints after each election. Persons were required to icgistcr within four mouths of the passing of the Act or after the date on winch they become qualified to he registered as electors. Tor neglecting to register a fine of 5s is provided for a first offence and 20s for any subsequent conviction. Electors must notify changes of address when they move within tlio electorate for which they are registered. .Similar fines to tho above are provided for neglecting- to do so, but failure to notify change of address shall not disqualify an elector from voting. Such provision is a safeguard to any injustice that might no done to an elector. Temporary absence from the district shall not ho a disqualification unless the elector becomes a resident in another electorate, or is qualified to become so registered. If there is an absence of throe months, it will he the duty of the elector to notify the licgistiar. There is provision lor notification of deaths of registered electors by the Registrar of Deaths, also for tlio notification of marriage of female electors, so that the rolls can he amended. Section 9 provided for a compilation of new rolls after Ihe coiiimcncciircnt of the Act, and the next section provides for tho abolition of the existing rolls al’.d the closing date of rolls and the printing thereof in the case of a byelection. There is a machinery clause to enable the Department to appoint one registrar to act for more than one electoral district. In the four principal cities it is proposed for general information and administrative purposes to group city electoral offices under one officer. ,!t is proposed to amend .Section 52 of the Legislative Amendrlient Act, 1919, hv repealing sub-sections .'3 to 7 dealing with tiie removal of names of nonvolcrs at the general election from tho rolls. Tiie existing method bad been found unsatisfactoi v and unworkable. Section 13 makes provision for a more convenient and effective system of absent voting, ft is not applicable to seamen who will vote under the existing special provisions in tiie Legislative Act. Section LJ provides for two classes of persons voting hv (l.eehirntion on election day and repeals the provisions in Section 13 of tho Expeditionary Forces Voting Amendment Act of 1919. •Section 15 makes tiie icsidential period in a'n electoral district three months instoad of one month as at nrcsent.

Afr Rhodes (Thames) said lie regret tod there was no adequate provision in the Pill to enable invalid persons to vote.

The Hon. D. Dud do ventilated the same appeal. The Bill was ica<T a second time.

MR. AfeCO A IBS DRAWS LESSONS FROM BRITAIN.

fn Committee Ah- .McCombs said he regretted the absence of anything in the nature of proportional representation in tht> Bill. Tho recent election in Britain showed the need for seme reform, but had as tilings were in Britain, they were worse in New Zealand. Air Isitt welcomed the Bill ivi'ih gladness because he believed it would eon tribute towards a pure roll but lie was alraid the attempts to enable invalids to vote would result in extensive in person at ions. Afr Holland contended that once an elector’s name was on the roll it should not lie open to challenge except through, the medium of criminal profee'i’iig.s. -Most of flic changes in the B’ll were needed, Imt lie regretted tlio absence of proportional representation. His party would move amendments in that direction as the Bill proceeded. He claimed that the time had arrived when there should he a printed roll foi the Maori oiect:ons.

Mr Veitch said the disappointment of the Bill was Lhub there was no electors! reform in it unless comer bsorv enrolment could he so called. He deplored the absence of all relercreo to pronertioiv.il representation. It was unfortunate Parliament was controlled hv a group who refused to bring the electoral law into lino with the needs and wishes of the people. Several other sneakers also advocated the reform of Maori elections.

WHY PREMIER OPPOSES PRO PORTATION.A f, REPRKSESTATION.

Mr Massey, in reply, said alterations had been made in the law regulating Maori elections some , years ago, lint it was found impossible to oarrv them out. One of the difficulties was that most. Maoris have several names, and could go oil several rolls, and it nam'd, 4;;' impossible .to check them. He ‘person-illv favored endeavoring to give nj,ek people votes, but great objoet’ons came from medical men, who did not wish to have some patients worried by polities. fie did not bring down proportional representation because he was not satisfied it had proved satisfactory. It was not a perfect system, and he did not think they u mild ever get a -perfect system. He d:,l not. propose to bring down nn'•rlier Electoral Bill this .session, but lucre might be one next year. Mr Milford said lie wanted to see proportional representation given effect to, but lie could not move to include it in tliis Bid. because it involved an appropriation. Next session the Premier ought to put a straight forward motion before the House and let the _ House give a straight-out- expression of opinion on it If that were done he would be satisfied, what- ever the result might be, but at present all they could do mi’s to remain dissatisfied with the present system. The Premier, in reply, said the suggestion made by Mr At Ilford was not a bad one, and next session lie might adopt it. He did not think there was a majority ill the House for proportional representation. Mr Forbes: What about the first past the post system ? Mr Mnssev: 1 think the majority prefer it to proportional representation.

R ESI DEN TIA L Q U ALI FI CAT lONS. Mr Fraser objected to the proposal to extend residential qualification from one month to throe months.-. In contending it would be injurious to workers. Mr Massey, in reply, said that any elector who bad shifted his residence could vote in las old electorate if he were not residentthree months in the nc-.w district. However, if members during the recess found there were injustices or anomalies lie would he prepared to consider further amendments next session.

LABOR AMENDMENTS OBJECTED TO. Mr Mt Combs moved a lengthy amendment to give effect to Proportional representation, preserving the "ouutrv quota and being Inn.tecl to 76'European constituencies. The Horn D. Stewart raised the point of order that the amendment would involve a charge upon the Crown and therefore could not be iuoyocl bv ii private member. 110 said that at iinv other time he would not have raised the point, but in tlic dying hours of the session the House

could not afford time in an academic discussion on p:oportionai representation.

'l’he chairman of committees upheld the objection, ruling that the amendment involved appropriation of public money.

SPEAKER CALLED IN. Air Alr.-Combs questioned the ruling and asked that Mr Speaker be called in to review. fS PROPORTION A L REPRESENTATION -MORE CUSTLY I HAN A'J present:-

All McCombs contended that tiie elections would have to be held, whether under proportional representation or not. The elections in Tasmania and in tin; City of Christchurch were no more costly than elsewhere. -Mr Stewart and Mr Massey contended that tiie expenditure under the new system would lie enormous.

Afr Speaker said tiie whole question was whether or not the present expenditure would he increased.

Air Sullivan said his experience as candidate for the Christchurch City Council was that proportional 'representation was the cheapest system.

Air Massey said there was no comparison between an election in Christchurch City and ever the whole of New Zealand. Tho head of tiie Electoral Department lmd just informed him it would cost CIO,OOO to bring this system into operation. Air \ (‘itch pleaded for a generous interpretation of tho Standing Orders to enable a member of the House to exercise his constitutional rights in placing , such amendments before tlio House for decision. MINISTER CONTENDS TWO ROLLS NECESSARY.

Messrs Armstrong and Julie argued in favor of proportional representation.

The Hon. I)..,Stewart pointed out that the licensing poll must he taken in the ordinary way. That meant there must he combined ini's lor a Parliamentary election and single rolls for licensing poll. This meant increased expense m prinUng. Air .McCombs contended that no new rolls would he required. Tiie oid rolls could he used for combined districts just as at present. SPEAKER REJECTS AMEND-

MENT. After further' debate Air Speaker said lie had dealt with only one phn.se'of tiie question, did tho amendment involve increased expenditure.The most authentic information he hail on tin’s poirfi was tiie statement of tile head of tho Department passed on to the. House by the I Tenner, that the preliminary oxpegdiltiro on proportional representation wouul cost at least £ 10,000. There - were other minor aspects oi tlio case, but that seemed to govern tljo position, and he must rule the amendment out of order.

The committee stage was then completed, and the Dill was read a third time and passed.—R.A.