ONE MAN TO VOTE.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1928, Page 4

ONE MAN TO VOTE.

Tn the transition stage between what may he called “ruralism” and “snbnrhanisni” there comes a time when section holders have the whip hand in voting power over the toiling proprietor of broad acres that “pay the rates.” This was mentioned to I the Prime Minister at Silverdale on Thursday by Mr Bridson, who was a candidate for the AVaitemata County Council at the last election. Mr Bridson pointed out that, as the law stood, a ratepayer was limited to three votes on a loan proposal, no matter how much he paid in rates. Consequently four week-enders owning quarter-acre sections on the bench and paying jointly only £1 a year in rates could outvote a farmer paying £2OO a year in rates and load him up with loans. He n.skcd whether the Inn could he amended so that there would K? on" vote for each £IOO of valuation. The Prime Minister said lie would not like to attempt it. It would assail the principle of one man one vote, which was a rather cherished democratic ideal. At the same time he regarded with considerable misgiving the tendency to overburden country settlers with rates. It was in many eases being carried to excess, and ought to be discouraged. That was one of the reasons why the Loans Board was created A ease in point where the Loans Board had recently authorised a £-1000 loan poll over ratepayers in a small local area- to metal a main road not even in their own riding was mentioned. and the Prime Minister confessed himself at a loss to understand why the Loans Board passed it.