§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in connection with the revision of the register of electors, he advised all registration officers that great care should be taken in compiling the registers, as such registers would supersede the registers compiled under the National Registration Act, 1915, and would be required for service should Conscription become a permanent feature of our national life?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have not given any such advice as indicated in the question.
§ Mr. SHORTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that considerable doubt exists in the minds of registration officers relative to the interpretation of Ch. 64, Part I. (Franchises), Section 5, Clause 3, of the Representation of the People Act; whether some officers have decided that a man who has been demobilised to a Reserve, but not discharged, and is under twenty-one years of age, having the qualifying period, has been granted the franchise and others have not; and whether he will give a ruling so that uniformity of action on the part of registration officers may obtain?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am aware that considerable doubt exists whether a man who attained the age of nineteen years during his service in the forces can on demobilisation acquire a qualification to be registered as an elector until he has reached the age of twenty-one years. I have, however, no power to give any ruling which would be binding on registration officers in the matter.