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143
Parliamentary
Elections Bill.
The present Bill to consolidate, simplify, and
amend the law relating to parliamentary elections
is the first attempt yet made to embody in one measure the
various complicated statutory provisions in numerous Acts
of Parliament on this subject.
In by far the larger portion of this Bill the existing
law is simply reproduced with such verbal alterations and
modifications as were needed to fit in the various provisions
with the proposed amendments of and alterations in the
law proposed by this Bill. Wherever possible the exact
words of existing statutes are retained, with the view of
reducing the debatable matter, as far as practicable, to a
minimum.
For the most part the law as it now exists is simply
reproduced in the words of the several statutes particularly
as regards:—
(1.) The provisions relating to illegal and corrupt
practices.
(2.) The provisions relating to procedure at elections.
(3.) The law relating to election petitions.
(4.) The provisions relating to issue of writs, with
modifications, and fixing date of elections.
(5.) The method of taking votes at elections.
The chief alterations in the law proposed by this Bill
are:—
(1.) The substitution of simple residential manhood