The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1878.

Kumara Times, Issue 435, 16 February 1878, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1878.

lNcolonies such as these where there must always be a large floating population, the problem of hitting the happy medium between manhoodsuffrage,pureand simple, and a residential qualification is a difficult one. It will certainly arise during the approaching session of Parliament, and already we have expressions of opinion on the subject from widely opposite points of view. In the telegraphic synopsis of Sir George Grey's address to the electors of Wellington, published in our issue of yesterday, he is repoited to have said that " he held that each male adult should have a vote." Ou the other hand, Mr Montogomery, addressing his Akaroa constituents the other day, said.—" It seems to me absurd for men, simply because they come from California or Victoria to dig, or from Australia to shear our sheep—men who came as it were here yesterday and may be away to-morrow—to have a voice in our Legislature. What I want to see is residential suffrage, and I would guard its use with certain checks. T would have a man reside in one district for twelve months before he shall be entitled to a vote; then he should get his claim attested by another elector, or if thought necessary, make a statutory declaration as to its correctness before a Justice of the Peace or the Revising Officer. Then he would not be placed on the roll for six months more, the rolls taking that time for preparation. Thuß.it would be seen that he could not possibly exercise his vote for eighteen months after he had resided in the ' district. There would also be the check that, so soon as he went out of the district, he would lose his vote, and that his vote would require to be registered every year." There is, it appears to üb, a good deal to be said on both sides of fc he question. On the one hand, it seems absurd and most inexpedient that a man from another colony may land to-day, take out a miner's right, and vote the next day ; on the other, to impose a residential qualification of eighteen months, liable to forfeiture for another eighteen months upon removal to the next district, is tantamount to disfranchising one of the most numerous, influential, and intelligent- sections of the community. This is a matter in which the miners of Kuraara are very deeply interested j and we place before

them thus early in the day the two opposing propositions likely to be brought up in Parliament, in order that they, may be well informed as to legislation tending to affect their interests, and be afforded an opportunity, if they value their rights as citizens and electors, to publicly express their opinions on the subject.