§ 59. Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, if he is aware that in many cases the enumerators who are employed by registration officers to carry out the house-to-house canvass for the purposes of the registration of electors make their visitations days, and even a week or more, prior to the last day of the qualifying period; and will he cause this practice to cease as it is irregular, and leads to many electors who change residence during these few days or weeks being left off the registers or to being placed upon the wrong registers?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply. I am aware that registration officers, in order to ensure the preparation and printing of the electors' lists in time for publication on the statutory date, often find it necessary to commence the house-to-house inquiry a few days before the end of the qualifying period. The risk of error would not, however, be obviated by commencing the inquiry on the last day of the qualifying period; and I am satisfied that in practice registration officers can and do take precautions against the consequences apprehended by the hon. Member.