Nov. 27.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3591

Regulations as to the Taking of the Votes of Members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces for the Purposes of the Next General Election and Licensing Poll.

LIVERPOOL, Governor-General.

ORDER IN COUNCIL.

At the Government House at Wellington, this twenty-seventh day of November, 1919.

Present:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL IN COUNCIL.

IN pursuance and exercise of the powers conferred on him by section eighteen of the Expeditionary Forces Voting and Electoral Rights Amendment Act, 1919 (hereinafter referred to as “the said Act”), His Excellency the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand, acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of that Dominion, doth hereby make the regulations set forth in the Schedule hereto.

SCHEDULE.

REGULATIONS.

Voting by Members of the Expeditionary Forces in New Zealand.

1. For the purpose of taking the votes of members of any Expeditionary Force in New Zealand, the Chief Electoral Officer may appoint such additional polling-places as he thinks fit, and for each such polling-place shall cause to be appointed a Deputy Returning Officer and such clerks, if any, as he deems necessary.

2. For the purpose of taking the votes of members of the Expeditionary Force who are inmates of hospitals, sanatoria, or other public institutions, and who by reason of illness or other incapacity are unable to come to a polling-booth, a Deputy Returning Officer may visit such places and record the votes of all such members of the Expeditionary Force who desire to vote.

3. (1.) If a member of the Expeditionary Force entitled to vote under these regulations is unable personally to mark the voting-papers, the Deputy Returning Officer or one of his clerks may, at the request of the voter, mark the voting-papers in his presence and in accordance with his instructions.

(2.) In any such case the Deputy Returning Officer or clerk shall endorse on the voting-papers a statement that the voting-papers have been marked by him at the request of the voter.

Voting by Soldiers on Ships.

4. (1.) If any vessel leaves England with members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on board at any time before the day appointed for the taking of the licensing poll, the High Commissioner shall cause to be supplied to the Military Officer in charge a ballot-box or ballot-boxes, together with a sufficient number of voting-papers for the taking of the votes of the members of the Expeditionary Force on board such vessel.

(2.) The votes recorded on troopships at sea under these regulations shall be counted in New Zealand, and a Returning Officer shall be appointed for the purpose.

(3.) For the purposes of the said Act the day for conducting the licensing poll at sea shall be Tuesday, the sixteenth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen.

(4.) The Military Officer in charge shall on the said day cause a poll to be taken of all men on the vessel entitled to vote, and shall not count the votes, but shall forthwith after the close of the poll securely seal the ballot-box or ballot-boxes and shall deliver the same, or cause the same to be delivered, to the Returning Officer in Wellington, or to a person authorized in writing by or on behalf of the said Returning Officer to receive the same.

(5.) The said Military Officer shall also cause to be delivered to the said Returning Officer in a sealed parcel all documents used in connection with the poll, and all unused and spoilt voting-papers.

(6.) As soon as practicable after the receipt of any voting-papers pursuant to the foregoing clauses, the Returning Officer shall count the votes and transmit the results to the Minister of Justice through the Chief Electoral Officer.

Voting by Soldiers in Samoa.

5. (1.) For the purpose of taking the votes of members of the Expeditionary Force who may be in Samoa, the Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint a Returning Officer, who shall in turn appoint such Deputy Returning Officers and clerks as he deems necessary.

(2.) At the close of the poll at any polling-place the Deputy Returning Officer in charge shall transmit the boxes to the Returning Officer, who shall count the votes and transmit to the New Zealand Government by wireless or other expedient means the following particulars:—

(a.) The total number of votes recorded;

(b.) The number of informal votes;

(c.) The number of votes recorded in favour of national continuance;

(d.) The number of votes recorded in favour of State purchase and control; and

(e.) The number of votes recorded in favour of national prohibition.

(3.) After transmitting the results as aforesaid the Returning Officer shall, at the first convenient opportunity, forward in a sealed parcel all voting-papers and other documents connected with the poll to the Chief Electoral Officer in Wellington.

Voting by Soldiers in Great Britain.

6. (1.) For the purpose of taking the votes of members of the Expeditionary Forces who may be in Great Britain on election day, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, or some person authorized by him in writing in that behalf, shall appoint such polling-places and such Deputy Returning Officers and clerks as he thinks necessary.

(2.) Every Deputy Returning Officer so appointed shall be furnished with a sufficient number of voting-papers for taking a poll at the polling-place or polling-places for which he is appointed.

7. (1.) At the close of the poll at any polling-place the Deputy Returning Officer in charge shall not count the votes, but he shall securely seal the ballot-box or ballot-boxes and shall forthwith forward the same to the High Commissioner at his office in London.

(2.) He shall also, as soon as practicable, forward to the High Commissioner in a sealed parcel all documents used in connection with the poll and all unused and spoilt voting-papers.

8. (1.) On receipt of any voting-papers by the High Commissioner as aforesaid the High Commissioner shall cause the votes to be counted, and shall forthwith cable to the New Zealand Government the following particulars with respect to each polling-place, that is to say:—

(a.) The total number of votes recorded;

(b.) The number of informal votes;

(c.) The number of votes recorded in favour of national continuance;

(d.) The number of votes recorded in favour of State purchase and control; and

(e.) The number of votes recorded in favour of national prohibition.

(2.) After cabling the results as aforesaid all voting-papers and other documents used in connection with the poll shall be retained in the High Commissioner’s Office for twelve months, and may then be destroyed.

General.

9. (1.) For the purpose of the foregoing regulations as to the taking of the votes of soldiers in Great Britain or Samoa, scrutineers may be appointed as follows:—

(a.) One scrutineer for each polling-place may be appointed on behalf of persons in favour of national continuance.

(b.) One scrutineer for each polling-place may be appointed on behalf of persons in favour of State purchase and control.

(c.) One scrutineer for each polling-place may be appointed on behalf of persons in favour of national prohibition.

(2.) Every person appointed as a scrutineer under this regulation shall, before acting, be required to make the same declaration as if he were appointed pursuant to the Licensing Act, 1908.

F. W. FURBY,
Acting Clerk of the Executive Council.