The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1894. THE NEW LIBERALISM.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 44, 17 August 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1894. THE NEW LIBERALISM.

Oxe by one the rights and privileges of the industrious and thrifty classes are being cut away from them. The latest freak in that direction is the passing by Parliament of the second reading of the Municipal Franchise Enlargement Bill, which gives householders power to vote at the elections of councillors, and also gives a vote to every person who may live outside the borough but pay ratess within it. The Bill also provides that the electoral roll shall be used in the election of the Mayor of a borough. Householders who were uot ratepayers would be debarred from voting on questions of loans. As to the persons who may live outside a borough, but pay rates within it, they have always had the power of voting, provided always their names were on the burgess roll. The absolute absurdity of the clauses of the Bill which give householders the right to vote at the election of the Mayor and Councillors, and yet debar them from voting on questions of loan, must be patent to everyone — who is not a member of tho Liberal party in Parliament assembled. The position is this — the householders ir ay not vote for a loan, but they may vote tor and elect the men who will have the spending of the money at their own sweet will. Whether this Dill will pass through Committee unscathed we do not know, but in the present temper of the Government majority we shall not be surprised if i-ven this manifest injustice is perpetrated at the exp nse of those who are the possessors of a little property.