THE Grew River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY. MARCH 21, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1138, 21 March 1872, Page 2

THE Grew River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY. MARCH 21, 1872.

It is the practice with public journals at this season of the year to impress, upon their readers the necessity, propriety, et cetera, of taking the preliminary steps to place their names upon the electoral roll; The advice is given as regularly, in its proper season, as reports are given, in due season, of mammoth cabbages and cucumbers. It seems to be taken for granted that communities are given to backsliding in their interest in public matters, and to be especially forgetful of the forms to which attention is essential before they can practically exercise that interest. This assumption is not altogether groundless. In the intervals between elections it is too commonly the practice to forget the political privileges which on these occasions everyone is so eager to exercise, and. especially to forget the Simple formalities by which these privileges are to pbe secured. It is, unfortunately, the fact also that in this Colony, while a mass of ancient English legislation has been included in the statute-book, the plan which is now adopted at Home of registering electors without any action on their part, has not yet been imitated. The Government does not even furnish the forms according to which the privilege of registration has to be applied for. In one instance this has been done by a Provincial Government — printed forms of application having, on some .occasions, been forwarded by the Government of Otago to all the public offices in the Province, but usually it is owing to the action of some benevolently disposed or politically excited printer that people are enabled to have their names placed upon the roll. There is some reason, therefore, for the annual reminders which are given as to the duty of the unenfranchised taking the steps necessary to secure, for themselves such political privileges as are to be enjoyed under our present Constitution, arid there is special reason for our giving this reminder on the present occasion. In the Grey "Valley there has, perhaps, been greater neglect in this ' • matter than in> most parts of the Colony. The possession of a miner's right, or a business license being enough to entitle the holder to vote for a member of the General Assembly or of the Provincial Council, Bomo indifference has been felt as to regular registration on the electoral roll, but it ought to be remembered that for another important election, that of Superintendent, this registration is requisite, And it is not only requisite in Nelaon, as in other Provinces, but it is especially recommendable that the requirements of the Electoral Act should be complied with in a case where the office of 1 Superintendent is one of such exceptional power as it is in that Province. More than in any other Province the results of the meetings of the Provincial Council are nominal and uninfluential in the guidance of the administration of Provincial affairs, and there has also to be considered the serious and unfortunate fact that the Superintendent is • simply the representative of a section of the population— a section topographically and otherwise separate from the population resident on the South -West Gold Fields. It ought, however, to be unnecessary for ns at this time of day to harp upon such a wellworn string as this subject may figuratively be said to be. It ought to be sufficient simply to refer to circumstances which are well understood and appreciated, and to add that, if those who do not already possess the franchise desire to do so, they must make application within ten days from the present date. The period for receiving applications to be placed on the electoral roll closes on the 31st of the present month, and, whether it be with a view to participation in the election of members of the General Assembly, or of Superintendent, or of Provincial Councillor?, it ought to be the care of everyone possessing the qualification to have his. name enrolled on the more reliable record than that of business licenses and miners' rights. Briefly our recommendation to the freeholder, leaseholder, or householder is at once to. Register.