THE ELECTORAL BILL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1789, 14 November 1879, Page 3

THE ELECTORAL BILL.

In order that your readers may clearly understand the present position of the Qualification of Electors Bill, as passed through committee last night, when it was ordered to bo re-committed on Friday, I give now the points introduced in the Bill. In sub-section 1, of clause 3, the freehold qualification is extended to every person of the age of twenty-one or upwards, which of course includes females. In sub-section 2, after every man in first line words “of the age of twenty-one years or upwards ” are inserted, which gives residential qualification to adults who have resided six months in the district in which they claim to vote. Clause 4 of the original Bill, which excluded Maoris from being registered under the Act, is excised, and a new clause inserted which entitles every Maori to be registered as an elector who is enrolled in a ratepayers’ roll, or is seized of freehold estate of the value of £25. After sub-section 5, which disqualifies aliens and persons convicted of any treason, felony, or infamous offence, unless he shall have received a free pardon, the following words are added—“or shall have undergone the sentence or punishment to which ho shall have been adjudged for such offence,” and the following proviso is added—“ provided always that every person who may in future be convicted of any of the before mentioned offences shall, unless he has received a free pardon, have his name erased from every electoral roll of the colony, and shall be not entitled to have such name placed on any electoral roll within twelve months after he has undergone the sentence or punishment to which he shall be adjudged for such offence.” Two now clauses are added after clause five. These define the word Maori to mean an aboriginal native inhabitant of New Zealand, and includes any half-caste living as member of Native tribe, according to their customs and usages, and any descent of such half-caste by a Maori woman. Clause seven provides that nothing in the Act shall affect any right or privileges conferred upon or granted to any Maori under the Maori Representation Act, 18G7, or any Act amending or continuing same.