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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 988, 19 October 1881, Page 2

Political law makers are, to use an Hibernianism, like doctors with a diff. erence. When they disagree in their diagnosis, what becomes of the patient ? The public mind is sorely exercised just now over what is supposed to be a stupid blunder made by some one, in making what is broadly stated to be a flaw in the new Representation Act. According to one correspondent, we are gravely informed that a question has been raised as to the power of the Electoral Registrars to have new rolls printed until four months elapse since their formation. The Representation Act says the rolls are to be formed in accordance with the Registration Act, 1879, which provides that rolls be pointed at the expiration of four months after formation. It is contended that this by implication prohibits earlier printing of the rolls, the object being to prevent undue hurrying of an election

as taking the country by surprise after a redistribution, and preventing full advantage being derived from snch redistribution (see sections 6 and 30, Registration Act, 1879). If this view were sustained it would delay the elections by four months, but I understand the law officers to whom the matter has been referred have advised that the printing of rolls may proceed, and this accordingly will be done. We have looked into the matter, and are free to confess that “ con- “ fusion worse confounded ” is the result. What between references to, and emendations of the Regulation of Elections Act, the Registration of Electors Act, and the Representation Act, the whole matter is in such a state of fog that even two opposing Philadelphia lawyers, of equal acumen could claim the victory of being right. The following are the two propositions on which the matter rests. Section 30 of the Registration of Electors Act provides that, “At the expiration of four months after the first roll of any district is formed, as hereinbefore provided, the same shall be printed, with the names subsequently added inserted therein, in alphabetical order.” Hence it is argued that, by strict interpretation, the rolls cannot be printed before four months have elapsed from the coming into operation of the Act, ergo the rolls cannot be printed until the middle of February next, and the general elections must be postponed until the following month of March. But subsection 2 of clause 5 of the Representation Act provides that “ The electoral rolls in force on the day when this Act comes into operation shall be the rolls from which the new rolls shall be formed and clause 6of the same Act provides that “ Every electoral district ■ constituted under this Act shall, for the purposes of the Registration of Electors Act, 1879, and the Qualification of Electors Act, 1879, be deemed to have been constituted six months prior to the date when this Act comes into operation." This last clause would appear to validate the present proceedings ; but why, iu the name of all that is political our Parliamentary Acts cannot be read like school books, is a question difficult to solve.