I beg to move Rule 3, which deals with the forms of claims to be sent out. Deputy Thrift has given notice of an amendment to this clause and to some subsequent clauses. I am in agreement with the object he has in view, but I think that if we had some consultation over the matter we could come to an agreement and therefore I would suggest to him that he should not propose his amendment at this stage. I am glad he put it down, but I would like to discuss the matter with him and somebody representing the Post Office. The object is, as I take it, that it shall not be necessary for the University elector to renew by post each year his claim to remain on the University register. I think it is possible that owing to that system the University registers might shrink very seriously. On the other hand some of the University electors might move about from constituency to constituency, and if some precautions additional to those suggested in the amendment moved by Deputy Thrift were not provided it is probable that you would find people whose names appeared upon two electoral rolls. Then again you probably would have a large number of dead men appearing as University electors. I think it might be quite possible to use postmen in all parts of the country as enquiry agents so far as the University register is concerned. I see no reason why at the address of each University elector the postman of the area might not leave a form to be filled which he would ask for the next day or the day after, so that it would be ascertained in each case whether the University elector had left his previous address or whether he was still living in the same place. It is a matter of some little detail and would have to be gone into, but I think we can devise a system whereby we would have a University register as good a register as that of any ordinary constituency with practically no name upon it that ought to have been removed from it, and so compiled that it would not give any opportunity for dual registration. And on the other hand I think we could arrange that the University register would not depend entirely upon people filling up, and posting before a certain date, their claim to re-entry upon the register each year. Because I believe if the matter was left that way as in the Schedule it is quite possible we would find that through carelessness not half the people who wanted to be on the University register were on it, and it might happen that the University register would shrink to very small proportions indeed. I think it is quite proper to provide that once a person is elected to be registered as a University elector that that shall stand unless there is a specific request that he should be registered as an ordinary elector. I am at one with Deputy Thrift in desiring that that should be brought about, and if the Deputy will consult with me and someone from the Post Office I think we could arrive at a rule that would meet his wishes entirely.
