COMPULSORY ELECTORAL REGISTRATION.

Shannon News, 30 January 1925, Page 3

COMPULSORY ELECTORAL REGISTRATION.

I FORMS TO BE ISSUED THIS WEEK. The compulsory* registration of electors which came onto force consequent on tne Legislature Amendment Act, 1924, Is now being put into effect and is to be carried out through the medium of the various post offices in the district. The Act provides for the enrolment of every available elector throughout the v country. . A new roll is being made, and the fact -that an elector’s name has appeared on tlie roll previous to the passing of the present Mnenment Act, does not absolve the person concerned from the necessity of re-enrolling. It is provided, that every person who has attained the age of 21 years arid who has the necessary residential and nationality qualifications shall enrol before the 6th day of March, .1925, and anyone, failing to do shall become liable, on conviction, to. a fine of ss, with a penalty of £1 for any subsequent convict#n. The onus of registration is on the elector, but in order to facilitate the work, arrangements have been made with the postal authorities to assist by the distribution of enrolment foriri's.

( In the Shannon district, three forms wifi be distributed during the present week. Within the letter-delivery areas, tlie letter-carrier will ascertain, the number of electors at each house on his round and leave the required number of forms, which will be collected later. Rural delivery box-own-ers and private bag. holders will be supplied in. the same way. Those electors not served by delivery will obtain forms on application at the post office delivery counter. Maoris, who will have a separate electoral roll, will not be. supplied with forms, but any half-caste, desiring to vote as , an European, may make application for enrolment. Although the Act does not provide for registration before March 6th, it will be understood that a considerable amount of preliminary work has to be done before the name of tbe elector who has registered, can appear on tbe roll. It is therefore specially requested that all forms shall be returned, as soon as. possible, and in no case later than six days after receipt. The instructions forwarded With the enrolment form indicate that the form shall be returned direct to the Registrar, but this has been amended, and. forms are now to be returned, in unsealed envelopes (Envelopes will be provided) to the Postmaster. The reason for this is that it has. been found that a large number of forms are incorrectly or insufficiently filled in, and in order to facilitate the work of the Registrar it is desired that the quota from every post office shall be complete before, being sent forward. * . For the convenience of electors, the different letter carriers have been authorised to witness the signatures of applicants. The., postmaster, postal counter clerks, and any person whose name appears on the old electoral roll, may also witness the signature of a person registering within the electoral district to which they belong.