19 AUGUST 1916, Page 2

The new Special Register Bill accordingly provides that persons engaged

on war work since August 4, 1914, are to be placed on the register whether or not they have retained their qualifying pre- mises. Further, such persons who were in process of qualifying for a vote, whether they are owners, occupiers or lodgers, are to be treated as if they had continued to qualify under the existing law. The period-of qualification is to run to November 1 next, not to July 15 last, and the new register is to come into force by May 31, 1917. Mr. Asquith stated that the military authorities objected. moststrongly to the idea of asking the electors on active service to vote in a General Election. In other words, register or no register, a war election is impossible.