EDUCATIONAL FRANCHISE BILL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1850, 25 May 1888, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL FRANCHISE BILL

-r~ 9 . | t~"' The apodal correspondent o£ the " Lytteiton Tiraea " saya : — M»jor Steward's Bill for the abolition of oncuulative voting again paßsed Iba seoood reading last night. The Bill has had a chequered (nreer. Passed by the Honse of Representatives m 1832, 1883, 1884. and 1885, it was four tinvs thrown out m the Council, through the persiciteat opposition of Dr Grace, who, as the author of the cumulative voting clause of the 1887 Act, fought valiantly for his unpopqlarmeaßure, On one of the ccoasinnH it wan killol by the o»Btlng vote of Hlc W. Fitzherbert, upon a tlo which h*d arisen through the Bon Mr Qampboll g'vjnz hja voice with the 1 ' nndpf 'a misapprehension, and who was refused his request to havo the division list corrected. In 1886 it filled In Committee of the Honso owing to a misnnderstanding, and m the session of 1887 it was hang up after passing the second reading for the sixth time by a* sweeping majority, through Government business superseding that of private members 0 ,It la said that this year it stands a better chance of, passing through the Council, aa eoroo of those who have been its opponents m former years have Intimated their intention to support it. Aa the Bill has now been sent to 1 them five times, and by three different 1 Parliaments, the oonstitntional privilege of the Lords to reject, it may, fairly be questioned. It is to be hoped that It 1 will be passed, and without material amendments, as tho Bill as It stand e 1 defines who are householders with sufficient clearness, proyldea for the due 9 nomination of candidates, and repeals the ' very unpopular system of cumulative voting. b