HC Deb 04 November 1918 vol 110 cc1780-3
40. Mr. GILBERT

asked the President of the Local Government Board the number of naval and military voters on the new registers who are entitled to appoint proxies, and the number of such naval or military voters who have already appointed proxies?

The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)

All naval and military voters who are serving or about to serve afloat or on any area on land abroad where proxy voting is permitted—that is to say, any- where abroad except in France or Belgium—are entitled to appoint proxies, but I cannot give the numbers of those so entitled. The number of persons who have appointed proxies varies from day to day.

42. Mr. ROWLANDS

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has arranged that men whose names appear on the new registers and who have joined the forces since the registers were compiled will be placed on the absent voters' list, in order that they may have the opportunity of voting at the General Election; and, in the event of such an arrangement being made, up to what period prior to a General Election will such names be entered on the absent voters' list?

Mr. FISHER

An Order in Council is about to be made by which the Registration Officer, if he receives a statement notifying him that a registered elector has joined the forces since the registers were prepared, will place the elector on the absent voters' list. The statement should be received two clear days at least before the day for nomination of candidates. Registration officers have already been informed accordingly.

Mr. ROWLANDS

If the notice of the Proclamation should be at an early date, will there be any chance whatever of these men getting on the register?

Mr. FISHER

I should think there would be a very good chance of their being informed by the various election agents.

Mr. GILBERT

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if those names will be published, so that the candidates may see the list?

Mr. FISHER

The registration officers will do their best to publish them, but that will depend, of course, on what notice they obtain.

Mr. ROWLANDS

Will there be time enough for this notice to be given so that candidates can see the list?

Mr. FISHER

Notice can be given right up to two days before the nomination. The registration officers will do their best to see that a supplementary list of those put upon the absent voters' list will be obtainable for all candidates.

Major BOWDEN

Does that amount to an undertaking that it will be given?

Mr. FISHER

The registration officers have, or will be, instructed to inform people of the notice I have just given, and they will be instructed to do everything in their power, in the very limited time, and looking to their somewhat limited staff.

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that this applies only to men already on the register?

Mr. FISHER

Yes; this can only apply to those already on the register who would have been put on the absent voters' list if they had been called up at an earlier date.

Sir G. TOULMIN

Will the registration officer have authority to have such a list printed?

Mr. FISHER

The registration officer, I have no doubt, can get authority to have a list printed if there is time to have it printed. I am afraid the difficulty will be to find time to print the list if it can be added to right up to two days before the nomination.

Mr. THOMAS

That means it will be impossible for the majority of sailors and soldiers to vote if there is an early General Election?

Mr. FISHER

Certainly not. The right hon. Gentleman must have misunderstood the question and answer. This only applies to those who would have been put upon the absent voters' list had they been called up at an earlier period. This is the result of a conference on which had been represented the Whips of all parties.

General CROFT

No.

Mr. CRUMLEY

Not the Nationalists.

Mr. FISHER

Well, so far as I am aware, and as the result of that, we have devised this new Order in Council, by which those who are called up at a later period than the list has been published will now be able to be added to a supplementary absent voters' list.

43. Mr. ROWLANDS

asked whether, in order to allow further time for the counting of ballot papers received from naval or military absent voters, the period of postponement of the counting of votes as provided by Section 23 (3) of the Representa- tion of the People Act, 1918, will be increased to twelve days from the date of poll?

Mr. FISHER

This matter is under consideration.