GENERAL TELEGRAMS

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 5 April 1917, Page 5

GENERAL TELEGRAMS

ALIENS IN ELECTIONS.

CAN THEY VOTE?

WELLINGTON, April 4

An interesting position in regard to aliens arises in connection with the forthcoming municipal elections. The Hastings Borough Council holds the decided opinion that an enemy alien, should not be allowed to exercise the franchise, but unfortunately there are enemy aliens in its district who, according to the Municipal Corporations Apt, are entitled to vote. The solicitor to the Municipal Association of New Zealand -lias, I understand, advised that an unnaturalised alien cannot tak e advantage of "the ordinary residential qualification. at present. There are, however, the property and ratepaying qualification's, and apparently under these clauses a German at large in New Zealand can go to the poll with as much right as a New Zealander. Possibly the Sasttngs Borough Council will take the its own hands, but Parliament has not helped it to any solution of tfie difficulty, as a private member's bill aiming at naturalised and unnaturalised enemy aliens failed to get attention last session.