IMMEDIATE INQUIRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 October 1943, Page 3

IMMEDIATE INQUIRY

INTO CONDUCT OF ELECTION SUGGESTED BY LEADER OF OPPOSITION. QUESTIONS REGARDING VOTING BY SERVICE MEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 30. A suggestion that a committee of inquiry, consisting of representatives of the main interests contesting the election, should be set up to inquire into various factors in the conduct of the general election has been made by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, in a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. Mr Holland raises several questions concerning voting by service men, and states: “During the past two days I havereceived many communications from all parts of New Zealand regarding the result of the election, and many of these inquiries about votes cast by service men. There has been considerable confusion due to the results being announced, only to be materially altered by subsequent announcements of service men’s votes. “Most people understood on Saturday night that service men’s votes meant, in the absence of any statement to the contrary, that they were overseas service men. Now I understand that the overseas service men's votes have still to come in. In one instance a returning officer announced certain results, and he has since stated that he was not advised of the service men’s votes till just before midnight. “I have received cabled advice that no policy material was received by certain Middle East servicemen up to a few days before the election. “Many inquiries have been received whether proper precautions were taken to ensure strict secrecy in the voting by service men, and whether facilities were afforded to permit the presence of scrutineers, and also whether adequate precautions were taken to ensure that only service men entitled to vote did vote. In one case a candidate actually received 56 more votes from service men out of a total of 1600 service. men’s votes cast than he received out of a total of 12.000 civilian votes recorded.

“I make no charges whatever, but New Zealand is alive with rumours and expressions of doubt, and I feel sure you will agree that it is highly undesirable that any widespread feeling of doubt should be permitted to remain unsatisfied. I feel sure that these doubts should be removed, and therefore suggest that a committee of inquiry, consisting of representatives of the main interests contesting the election, be immediately appointed to look carefully into these matters to remove from the minds of the public any cause for doubt concerning the conduct of the poll.”