DISFRANCHISED SOLDIERS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 3 April 1919, Page 3

DISFRANCHISED SOLDIERS.

A wave of indignation is sweeping over the Dominion regarding the soldiers who, through no fault of their own, find themselves disfranchised so far as the licensing poll on the 10th April is concerned, and the attitude of the Government regarding the matter is certainly throwing no oil on the troubled waters. " These men," says the Acting Prime Minister, *' having been discharged from the Expepeditionary Force, and failed, subsequently, to get their names placed on the roll, cannot legally vote at the licensing poll. The Government would like to help these men to secure their voting privilege, but it cannot do anything for them." Mr Vernon Eeed, M.P., puts the case for the soldiers concerned very well when he urges that if it is inr possible to reinstate the men discharged since February, a wrong has been inflicted upon those soldiers receiving their discharges immediately prior to the closing of the rolls. Of course the Government instead of deploring its inability to do anything in this matter, should make provision for the recording of the votes of any of the disfranchised sqldiers by providing facilities similar to. those made for-electors whose names have heen wrongly struck off the roll. This latter suggestion has been made by the Auckland Province No License Council, and it is a most reasonable one,