THE ELECTORAL BILL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1396, 6 August 1878, Page 3

THE ELECTORAL BILL.

[continued.] (By Telegraph.] [from the correspondent of the press ] C lauses 57 to 79 define the jurisdiction of the ■Revision Courts. Their terms of sitting- are to be between the 12th and -Slat day of the month of May, and 12th and 30th November in each year, an i seven days’ previous public notification of such sitting is to be given. The Court is carefully to revise the list of voters, and has power to take evidence, and all provisions with reference to the examination of witnesses in District Courts are to apply to witnesses under this Act. Where any objection is made, the person objecting must appear in person, and give proof of the validity of his complaint, and the onus of proving his qualification retts with the person against whom the objection has been raised. If such proof does not appear satisfactory, his name is to bo erased, but the personal attendance of the permn objected to is not compulsory, unless ho is especially summoned by the Court In any case of frivolous objection the Court may allow costs, except when the objection Las bcenrai-cd by the registration officer or clerk of the court. In default of payment of costs, any J.P. may is-ne a distress warrant, and if no sufficient distress is to be had, then the defaulter may be committed to gaol for any term not exceeding two months. The lists after revision are to be sign' d and certified by the clerk of the Court in open Court, and then transmitted to the returning officer of the district, who is forthwith to order them to bo printed, and carefully to compare the pointed copies with the original lists and to sign three—one for his own use, one for the registration officer, and one for the Colonial Secretary. The one in the hands of tiie returning officer is to be considered !ho roll in force. Sections 90 and 91 refer to appeals from the Revision Court. There can he no appeal on a question of fact, but only against the deci-i m of the Revision Court. Appeals are to ho seat to the Supreme Court,and may be decided in a sum raary way, and without argument, by the Judge. No right of voting can he affected by an appeal pending, and the subsequent decision of an appeal is not to alter in any way the poll taken or the return made. Clauses 92 to 94 contain certain miscellaneous provisions as to tho time for the service of notices, which must be before 4 p.m. on the day fixed, and enact that, if from any cause whatever no roll is made out and complete for any half year, then the roll previously in force is to remain in force.

Part 4 provides for the general regulation of elections.

Clauses '95 to 100 provide for the appointment of returning officers ar.d polling places Hie appointment of returning officers is to rest with the Governor, and no member of the House can be a returning officer ; n'-ither can any officer or deputy stand as a c vndid de for the district in which he acts. The appoint ncut of polling places also rests with the Governor In clauses 101 to 110 the pr visions for th« issue of writs are the same as in theexisting law.

Clause 117 enacts that candidates mud bo nominated by not less than five voters, and the nomination paper signed by iliese five must he handed to the returning officer before 6 p.m. on the evening of the day preceding nomination day. Clause 125 enacts that the returning officer is to provide a sufficient number of booths or rooms, but none of these may be in any house licensed for the sale of liquors. By the following clause all public houses are closed on ole tioa day during polling hours, under a penalty not exceeding £, LOO. Each candidate or his agents may, as before, appoint one scrutineer; and a solemn repudiation of being influenced in any way by bribery may be demanded from any voter by the returning officer or his deputy. Clause 151—Until the Ist day of July, 1879, and until the electoral roils to be made under this Act shall come into force, it is enacted that where a person claims to vote as the holder of a miner’s right or 1 usiness license, uedor the provisions of sections 54 to 56 inclusive, then, in addition to the third, fourth, and filth of the prescribed questions, tho following question may be put to any such person, that is to say—“ Are you the person whose mime appears ;A. B.) on the miner'* right (or business license) now presented?' Such question may be put in a like manner, and under like circumstances as any other of tho prescribed questions. And if any person, having tendered bis vote as the holder of a miner’s right or business license, shall o nit or refu-e io answer such question absolutely in the affirmative, he shall be subject to a penalty not exceeding .£2O. Clause 152. At any election where any p rsou shall vote as the holder of a miner’s right or business license the returning officer or deputy shall impress upon such miner’s right or business license such distinguishing mark or stamp as the Governor in Council shall have appointed under any Act empowering him to do so If for any electoral district no such mark or stamp sh »ll have been appointed, then the Governor in Council may direct what mark or stamp shall be u-ed. Clauses 153 to 169, tho last, contain provisions for the regulation of the conduct of the returning officer after the result of poll has been ascertained, and arc viry similar to those in the existing Act. All books and papers are to bo made up into parcels, and after careful comparison of the rolls and selection, the parcels are to ho sealed by the returning officer. Any returning officer disclosing the votes is to bo considered guilty of a misdemeanor, and will be punishable by fine end imprisonment.