The Walkato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, NOV. 3,1896.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 51, 3 November 1896, Page 2

The Walkato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, NOV. 3,1896.

The Electoral Act Amendment Act of lust session carrc into force on the 17th of last mouth. It makes some rather important alterations in tho law, which it. is desirable should be clearly understood by the public. In the first place it enacts that from and after the coming into force of the Act no person shall be entitled to be registered on any electoral roll in respect of a non-rosidcntal qualification. Those, however, previously registered on a property qualification will still have power to exercise their right, but no new registration in this respect can take place. Another alteration and a very undesirable one is that now an elector of any district can witness a signature to an application form for enrolment in any other district. Formerly he could only witness as regards his own electorate. This provision will greatly facilitate the work of " rollsliiilbrs," as under it the chance of detection by the Registrar will be much less. There are, however, two new duties imposed upon Registrars which are of decided advantage to electors, fu the iirst place he has to notify persons where claims are sent in after the printing of tho general roll, that they have been duly registered on the supplementary roll. The other, clause 22, provides that it shall be the duty of the Registrar to erase from the roll the name of any person who does not vole at an election, and to post to such person a notice intimating that his name has been struck off, and that if hi' wishes to be re-instated he must send iu a now claim. The Bill also provides for the registration of married women in their new name, but in the meantime it is made permissive to vote in their old one under which they are registered. We again remind those entitled to have their names on the roll and who may not be registered that they should not lose an hour in making the necessary application, as no name will be added to the rolls after the writs for the elections are issued.