THE ELECTORAL BILL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1395, 5 August 1878, Page 3

THE ELECTORAL BILL.

By Telegram.

[rEOM THE CORRESPONDENT OF THE PEESB.]

Wellington, August 3

The Electoral Act, 1878, comes into force Ist January, 1879. Part 1 contains tho general provisions. Clause 3 repeals the Acts relative to the franchise and representation of 1870, 1875, 1872, 1803, 1805, 1868, 1871, and 1864. All appointments of officers and polling places lawfully made and now in force, existing rolis, rales, writs and endorsements arc to be continued and considered legal. Clause 8 enacts that the posts of Registration Officer and Returning Officer and clerk of Revision Court may be held by the same person. _ Clause 9. A misnomer, Oi." inaccurate description, is not to vitiate a list of voters or electoral roll. Clause 10. An election is not to be questioned for a defect in the title of a returning officer ._ Clau>e 11. An election is not to be void if there is no returning officer or for delay in remission of the writ.

Clause 13 fixi s the penalty for wilful misfeasance or negligence or any offence of commission or omission on tho part of the registration or returning officer, at not less than ten nor more than one hundred pounds. Clause 13 provides that accidental misfeasance or omission may be rectified by the Governor in Council.

Clause 14. Penalties may be recovered summarily, as p-ovided by the Justices of the Pe »ce Act, 1866. Part 2 refers to the qualifications of electors.

Clause 15. Every male person of the age of twenty-one, not legally incapacitated and being a natural born or naturalised subject of Her Majesty, shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be qualified to vote at an election in the district in which his qualifications -re situate : (a) if bo is seized of a freehold e.-tate of the clear value of ,£25 per annum, and has bsen seized of such estate for six months previous to the dute of his claim to vote ; or (b) If he is a householder within the electoral district for which he claims to vote, and occupies a tenement of the value of ,£lO per annum, and has resided therein six months previous to the date of his claim to vote; Or (c) if he has I'esided for two years in tho colony, and for six mo iths in an electoral district, and is possessed of no other qualification entitling him to vote under this Act, such qualification to be termed residential qualification. Clause 17. Persons on a ratepayer's list shall be qualified to vote at elections. Clause 18. Maoris, if on a ratepayer's roll, shall be entitled to vote, and nothing in this Act !?hall affect the provisions of tho Maori Representation Act, IBt>7, or its amending Acts.

Clause 19. No alien or person attainted or convicted, or attainted of trc.son-felony within any part of Her Majesty's dominions, shall be entitled to vote 'tnleas pardoned or has undergone thn full punishment for his offences. Clause 20. No trustee or mortgagee shall be deemed to he qualified as a freeholder. Clause 21. Persons possessing more than one qualification to vote are only entitled to one vote. Clause 22 Every duly qualified and registered elector shall bo qualified for election as a member of the House of Representatives for any electoral district. Clause 23. If any member of the House has ceased to hold his qualification, ho may still remain a member.

Clause 24, Persons may stand for more than one seat at the same time at a general election, and if elected must choose which sc it they will accept.

Part 3 deals with the registration of elector . Clause ■ 5. The Governor will appoint or remove registration officers, and any such unybc appointed to more th tn one distric'. Clause 27. No person is entitled to vote unless he has registered a form of claim [as in the second schedule.

Clause 31. Kveiy claim is to bo attested before a Justice of the Peace.

Clause 40. Objection may he made, but if objections frivolous a fine of £5 maybe imposed. A list of objections is to bo posted. Clause 5-1 Holders of miners' rights and business licenses n>ay claim to vole in iBV'9. Clause 56. Holders of miners' rights and business li ciues may vote on their existing qualification till July, 1879. K lause 57. District Courts of limited jurisdiction are to lie the Revision Courts.