THE LICENSING POLL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2263, 7 August 1908, Page 2

THE LICENSING POLL

ELECTORAL ROLLS. ALLEGED MISREPRESENTATION [Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON, August o. A question a 6 to whether the Government had appointed any canvassers to place people on the' electoral rolls was asked in the House this afternoon by Mr Poole. He stated that it was alleged that canvassers, reporting themselves to be Government officials, were going around certain electorates endeavoring to ascertain the views of tlie electors on the licensing question and promising to enrol them, hut neglecting to do so if their views proved to he in favor of nolicense.

“No canvassers have so far been appointed,” eaid the Prime -Minister. Mr Poole said tb.it the reply was satisfactory, as it gave the lie t 0 the irresponsible and unprincipled persons who had been going around stating that they had been engaged by the Government to secure names for the electoral roll. These people, lie asserted, were being employed by the liquor trade to put- on the roll the names of those who were favorable to the trade and to ignore the claims of those whom they believed were going to vote for no-license. Complaints had come to him from the north that the misrepresentations referred to had been made and were still being made by certain professional agitators, who claimed the endorsement of the Government for their action. Ho admitted that the canvassers for the no-licen6e party were not particularly anxious to put the names of liquor advocates on the rolls, hut they did not resort to deception or misrepresentation by claiming to he under the sheltering wings of the Government. He asked for fair play for those people who were required to obtain a tremendous majority to obtain the reform they were fighting for. He hoped that the matter would be inquired into and punishment meted out to the offenders.