The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1908. THE SECOND BALLOT BIEL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 434, 10 September 1908, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1908. THE SECOND BALLOT BIEL.

The above Bill now before Parliament provides that during the interval between the first and se- , cond ballots(1) It shall not be lawful for any candidate at the second ballot, or for any person on his behalf or in his interest, to call 1 together or take part in any public meeting of electors (whether the , admission to that meeting is general or restricted), or to address any such meeting. (2) It shall not be lawful for any such candidate at the second ballot or any other person to print, publish, exhibit, or distribute, or cause to be printed, published, exhibited, or distributed, any advertisement, no--1 tice, address, article or other docu- : ment with intent to promote, procure, advocate, oppose, or prevent i the election of any candidate at

the second ballot. (3) The provision of this section shall extend and apply to any period after the close of the poll on the first ballot, notwithstanding the fact that no declaration or notification of the result of the first ballot or the taking of a second ballot may have been yet made by the returning officert.” A penalty up to is provided. Apart altogether from the journalistic point of view, it may be remarked that the mention of the clauses quoted is not exactly a tribute to the intelligence of the people. Statements that are false and defamatory of candidates should certainly be put down by Act of Parliament, but the electors are surely capable of forming an opinion as to the value of fair criticism.