Electoral Reform.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1922, Page 1

Electoral Reform.

CLEAN ROLLS

WELLINGTON, February 1. “Does the Government propose to start the next general election \ clean rolls?” asked the member for Kaiapoi in the H°use to-day. He said that the commission had fixed new electoral boundaries and members now wished to know whether the old unsatisfactory system would be continued or if the Government could start with a clean sheet.

Mr Statham: And proportional re-' presentation ? Mr Jones went qn to said he believed in the Australian system of cmpplsory. registration, which would save the Electoral Department a great deal of expense. This principle was applied in connection with taxation, the onus being thrown on the taxpayer of preparing returns. Dr Thacker: I s this a ministerial statement ?

Mr Jones added that in a -recentelection 7,000 circulars were sent out aud 2,500 were returned through the post marked “No address.” Mr Massey replied that 'he would be very glad to provide what had beep culled a (.lean roll, and he had a great deal of sympathy with what had been ■suggested. If thqy could give the people of the new electorates a roll containing the names of those only who were entitled to vote it would bo a fine thing Though he had no proof •that there was Anything 'serjjousjly wrong with the rolls there was a suspicion that names had been poSled which had no right to be polled.'The matter had not escaped the Government’s attention and he hoped to he able to make a statement before the end of the session. He would ask Cabinet to c ° ns ider a proposal for compulsory registration.