HC Deb 02 July 1918 vol 107 cc1565-6
25. Major ASTOR

asked the President of the Local Government Board if forms have been provided for proxy voters which their wives or other persons appointed as proxy voters may send for signature to soldiers serving in proxy areas?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Walsh)

The Order in Council on this subject prescribing the forms to be used and making Regulations as to the mode in which proxy papers may be issued and cancelled was made last week, and will be obtainable in the course of a few days. The necessary forms are now being printed.

Major ASTOR

Will not the delay mean that the soldiers in the proxy areas will not be on the first register of voters?

Mr. WALSH

I do not quite understand what the hon. and gallant Gentleman means by delay. No delay in this matter has taken place beyond what was unavoidable in the conditions under which the work was done.

Major ASTOR

Will the soldiers in the proxy areas be on the first register of voters?

Mr. WALSH

It is very likely. Of course, the distance to be traversed and the whole of the conditions under which proxies have to be obtained, and guaranteed, are very difficult indeed, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman probably understands; still, it is very likely indeed that vast numbers of the soldiers will be on the first register.

Mr. GULLAND

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what are the proxy areas?

Mr. WALSH

Well, the proxy areas, of course, can only be understood to be those very distant areas in which it is very difficult indeed for soldiers to come home to vote, Salonika, Palestine, Egypt, and East Africa—these areas strike one at once as being areas from which proxy votes will probably be exercised.

Mr. GULLAND

Are France and Belgium to be proxy areas?

Mr. WALSH

I think so. Undoubtedly, where there are soldiers who cannot get home to vote, there must necessarily be, if possible, arrangements made for them to record their votes.

Mr. GULLAND

Will the soldiers in France and Belgium not be treated as absent voters—that is a very important matter?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Gentleman had better give notice of that. The question only deals with proxy forms.