SOLDIERS' VOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1919, Page 4

SOLDIERS' VOTES.

PROVISIONS OP THE NEW BELU CASE OP ABSENT MEN. (By Wire.—Own Correspondent.)! . i Wellington, Last Nighk.'* "The Expeditionary Forces Voting Billj which was passed by tha Council, lias been amended until it is practcially s , " r new measure. ' . The Government will not attempt to ■ take the votes of soldiers not yet returned to New Zealand. Mr. Mass*; explained the other day that lie con-' sidered the difficulties insuperable. Absent soldiers will vote on the licensing issue. All returned soldiers, whether recently returned or not, are to be allowed to vote as if they hold absent voters' permits.

The third part of the Bill deals with general electoral rights. The process of voting by declaration, is to be continued. Persons who have been absent Iron New Zealand owing to war causes are to be allowed to register, although they may not possess the necessary residence qualification. Absent voters are to be allowed to obtain their permits up to the date of the poll, instead of up till the time of the issue of the writs. An alteration is made in the qualifications of the applicant for a seaman's vote. The vote is to be available only to seamen trading exclusively within the territorial waters of New Zealand or in any ship trading to New Zealand ports at intervals of not more than three months.