NOT ON THE ROLL.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1922, Page 4

NOT ON THE ROLL.

MORE COMPLAINTS IN HOUSE. THE DUTY OF ELECTORS. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Electoral rolls were mentioned again in the House to-day. Mr. O. Hawken (Egmont) said that during a visit to his own electorate last week he had come across a whole family of farmers who had been struck off the roll, although they had occupied the same farm for very many years. These people were connected with the telephone system, and they could have been located without the least difficulty. Sixteen members of the family were entitled to vote, i and they had all been struck off. The member asked by whose authority this had been done. The Prime Minister replied that he had received a number of similar complaints, but he was not able to explain how the trouble arose. The procedure was for the Electoral Department to send a notice to the electors by post and if this notice was returned undelivered the names were struck off. Several members interjected that the notices were not being sent. Mr. Massey: I know that is the usua» procedure. Mr. W. T. Jennings (Waitomo): It was on previous occasions, but not this time.

Mr. Massey said that he had consulted the head of the department, who told him that very great care was being taken to secure a clean roll. Complaints had been reaching him that names were on the roll although the people they belonged to could not oe found. That was the other side of the case. Mr. Massey added that he had every confidence in the officers of the Electoral Department. It was the duty of all electors to see that their names were on the rolls. Copies of the rolls would be available at all post offices, and electors could easily make sure that their names had not been missed. Dr. H. T. Thacker (Christchurch) suggested that returning officers should give receipts for enrolment forms. The elector would then'be able to hold the receipt and would be in a position to prove his right to vote if any difficulty arose at the polling booth. The Prime Minister said he thought that this was being done, but he would make inquiries. Mr. Jennings: Yes, it is being done; I have the card here.