HC Deb 06 November 1918 vol 110 cc2109-11
94. Sir WILLOUGHBY DICKINSON

asked the President of the Local Government Board by what date after the Royal Declaration dissolving Parliament candidates will have to post their election addresses to naval and military voters in order to ensure their delivery to absent voters before they receive their ballot-papers; whether he will guarantee that at least ten days before that date candidates will have access to corrected addresses supplied to returning officers by the record offices; and what arrangements will be made by returning officers to render possible the copying of the corrected lists by candidates or their agents in sufficient time for them to be of service?

Mr. WALSH

On the first part of the question I would refer my right hon. Friend to the Regulations issued by the Postmaster-General. In regard to the second part, he will see that the giving of guarantees is impossible, but the arrangements which have been made contemplate that as soon as notice of a General Election is given—which will be eight days before the issue of the Royal Proclamation—the record offices will supply as rapidly as possible to the returning officer the latest particulars which they possess as to the addresses of the absent voters entered in their records. These, it is hoped, will reach the returning officers from two to four days from the date when notice is given, and returning officers are being warned to do their utmost to make the particulars available for the agents of the candidates.

Mr. HARRIS

Is the hon Gentleman aware that the returning officers are only to be supplied with two lists? How will it be possible for the candidates' agents or representatives, to make copies of those lists in the short time available?

Mr. WALSH

There is only a very short time indeed available under the whole of the regulations and the law itself for this purpose, and we are using it to the very best of our ability.

Mr. HARRIS

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this House was determined that soldiers should have a chance of recording their votes and of getting the election addresses?

Mr. WALSH

We are trying to do that to the best of our ability, and no one can do more.

Mr. GULLAND

Is there any chance of any absent voters having a vote at all?

Mr. WALSH

Undoubtedly. I do not think that question ought to have been put.

Mr. ROWLANDS

Is it not possible to state some day up to which the Postmaster-General can receive the addresses with some chance of them being delivered to the absent voter; otherwise there is no security whatever that the absent voter will get the addresses of the candidates?

Sir W. DICKINSON

Cannot the Local Government Board guarantee that the candidates will have access to the corrected addresses a known number of days before the last day on which the Postmaster-General will guarantee that these letters will reach our naval and military voters?

Mr. WALSH

Really, I think that hon. Members ought to see that the giving of guarantees is physically impossible, but the whole of the arrangements that are being made are with the special object of enabling absent voters to be placed upon the absent voters' list right up to the very day of nomination to the candidates getting their addresses to them.

Mr. PRINGLE

Have the Local Government Board placed the conditions of the election before the War Cabinet?

Mr. WALSH

That is the case. There have been communications between the Local Government Board, the Postmaster-General and the War Cabinet, with a view of making the whole matter as effective as possible.

Mr. ROWLANDS

Is it not possible for the Postmaster-General to be supplied with early information by his colleagues so that he may issue some information to the candidates and their agents as to the time that they can post the addresses?

Mr. WALSH

I can only say that all the Departments concerned are working together with the one special object of rendering the absent voter a really effective vote in the election.

Mr. COTTON (by Private Notice)

asked the President of the Local Government Hoard whether it is the case that instructions have been given to returning officers to prepare and print ballot papers forthwith for the purpose of early dispatch to absent voters on the naval and military lists; and, if so, what are the arrangements he has made for obtaining a complete and accurate list of the candidates in each constituency before the actual day of nomination?

Mr. WALSH

The returning officers have been warned to make all practical arrangements in advance, so that ballot papers may be dispatched to absent voters as soon as possible after the nominations have taken place and the seat is found to be contested, but no instructions have been issued that the printing is to be done forthwith.