MR. PIKE PEASEI beg to ask Mr. Attorney General whether he is aware that certain men serving in the Reserve, Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteer forces in South Africa have failed to pay their rates to 5th January last, which payment is a condition of registration of a person otherwise entitled to be placed on the occupiers portion of the List of Voters; whether his attention has been called to the case of Abel v. Lee (1871) L. R., 6 C., p. 363, which decided that excusal by justices from the payment of rates on the ground of poverty under the Poor Relief Act, 1814, s. 11, is not equivalent to payment; and whether this case has been overruled, and whether cases where the rates have not been paid are covered by the Electoral Disabilities (Military Service) Removal Act, 1900.
§ SIR ROBERT FINLAYThe case of Abel v. Lee referred to in the question has not been overruled on the point to which the question relates. The Electoral Disabilities (Military Service) Removal Act of this session does not cover cases of non-payment of rates.