HOSPITAL BOARD FRANCHISE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 March 1910, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD FRANCHISE.

AH UNFAIR BASIS. Mr A. H. Rollo, of Otnki, \mjovwarded to "The Chronicle" « thoughtful and instructive criticism of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board Act's provisions in regard to i electoral franchise ami district representation. The subject is one deserving of very serious consideration by all students of social and general politics, and it is not too much to Sny that the position disclosed seems,to mil for .immediate remedial action in the House ot Parliament, Mr Rollo'S letter is as follows:— "Boar sir,—The new Hospital and Charitable Aid uoard Act having been passed, and the first election under it held on the lOi 1 lms led mvself and others to wonder why the franchise has been so unfairly distributed. "In a borough, both ratepayers and householders (man and wife) have the right to a vote, whereas outside a borough boundary, or in any town not a borough, the householder counts for nought, and has no vote unless he or she be a qualified ratepayer, and has had his or her name placed on the ratepayers' roll. Surely a man or woniain resident in Shannon or Otnki is equally qualified and entitled to hold and exercise his or her vote as a man- or women resident in tho borough of Levin. "The householder (man and wife) in Levin borough may be only paying a small residential rent, and practically a very doubtful resident of long duration; yet they are given the franchise, and duly use it, to the detriment of other portions of tlie district which are less fortunately placed. A farmer may be paying £o0 or £;">OO, or more a year in "rent (without being on the roll of ratepayers), yet he and'his wife are disfranchised because the farm is not within the- boundaries of a borough, although it may be only a few yards beyond such boron "h boundary, and his more fortunate neighbours (man and wife) only pay say £10 a year in rent, aaid each can vote. "To my mind, the fairest and broadest lilies to work upon in this district, and others similarly situated, would be to place on the roll everybody who holds the qualificntion' of householder. This would certainly be equitable, and T for one would like to see the franchise altered to something near these lines, which I believe would be hailed with satisfaction, and giro the people a fair and equivalent vote all over the hospital electorates. Besides, it would be less cumbersome, and easier for the officials to compile and work on these lines. " Another nc.rtion of the Act which is unfair, is the representation. Wellington City has fourteen representatives, and the country six—or twenty members hi all (a small parliament). Irrespective of the representation. T consider the number too unwieldy; surely ten good representatives should be ample to carry out the work, and would, I believe, do it much better and certainly more economically. What does a city liJce Wellington want fourteen representatives for? The eo urn try people pay directly and indirectly fur the greated portion of taxes, aiul no doubt always will do so. Tf the board were composed of four city representatives and the f'omitry districts six, it would be less uiiwieldly. and far more lorfelv to exn-editiouslv carry out the work pertaiming to the new Act. "Tn conclusion, T may say that it would afford me pleasure to see more of our sifted and intelligent men take a deeper interest in local politics. it b the leaving of matters to the few who do so,' that onuses so little interest to be taken nt ii 11 times in local matters, jtore real live workers would be a -lecided acquisition to every sm.ill town •n the district. Home abler pen than mine should let us have their opinions.—Yours, etc.. A. TT. ROLLO. Otnki. March.