THE Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1879.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 56, 11 March 1879, Page 2

THE Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1879.

REGISTRATION OP ELECTORS. ♦ We remind all those whose names are not already on the Electoral Roll, or who during the past year have changed either the nature or locality of their qualification, that unless they register their •' claim to vote " during the month of March, they will be de» ' prived of the opportunity of voting for members of the General Assembly until the roll for 1880 is made up. It ifa most important that this matter should be thoroughly understood by every resident of tha district. The privilege of the franchise is the legitimate outcome of those free and independent institutions which are the foundation of our government. Where its exercise is neglected a grievous wrong is done, for we hold it to be a sacred duty incumbent upon every person possessing the necessary qualification to place himself in a position to assume any pubiic office, and by a vote give his direct influence in favor of that side of a question which commends itself to his judgment. It is almost certain that manhood suffrage, with proper restrictions, will before long be accepted as the necessary accompaniment of representative institutions such as we in New Zealand possess. Until it becomes an accomplished fact, however, it is the duty of the Press to urge upon the unregistered electors, as each general period for registration returns, the necessity of enrolling themselves in the electoral district in which they reside. First, then, as to the qualification. The law requires that the person claiming to vote must be in possession of land or property, the annual value of which is £10, or nearly 4s per week. This amount is so small that for all practical purposes, we may say every person who owns, leases, or rente a house or section of land is entitled to claim a 'vote. There is another class, however, who have the privilege of registra% tion. Lodgers who have lived in the .same house for one year, and who pay at the rate of at least £10 per annum fop their lodgings, are en> titled to have their name put upon the roll. There are numbers of young men over 21 years of age, who lodge for lengthened periods in the same domioile, and who are well qualified to form an intelligent opinion upon Colonial questions. We

urge the young men resident in the district who possess the ftacess&r.y lodger's qualificaitoii to register dttr« ing the tfeniftiiiing weeks of the month of March. As to the method of registration, it appears to us the arrangements made in this electoral district Are 1 not of the very best description* The Returning and Registration Officer is, we believe, Mr Kobs, of Mai'ton We are not aWare of any DeputyRegistration Officers having been appointed in Manawatu, and think there is cause for dissatisfaction at this. It appears that the above unsfttisfuctoiy state of affairs has arisen in this way : —When Major Willis was li.M. for the district, owing to the multifarious nature of the duties he was called upon to perform, he absolutely rßAtseu to act as Eeturnittg Officer, and that is the reason why an officer in another County was appointed to do the work ; and no improvement has sinoa been effected, probably owing to the matter never having been brought under the notice of the Government. We have good reason to be lieve the present Magistrate, Mr "Ward, would undertake the duties. The usual custom is for all clerks of courts to be appointed as registration officers. We therefore waited upon Mr Baker some time ago, and asked for information regarding the registration of electors in Manawatu. He replied that he knew nothing of it beyond the fact that about a dozen registration forms had been sent to him, but that he had received no instructions to act as registration I officer. As we desired to register I our own vote we simply filled the form up, and despatched it per post to the address of AJr. Ross, at Marton. In the absence of any better method, we would suggest that any others desiring to register should adopt the same course. We believe Mr Baker has some registration forms left, and we have no doubt he will be glad to give them to any persons applying. We would again urge upon all unregistered persons who possess the necessary qualification to onrol themselves. It is by no means improbable that a dissolution will take place during the year. Should such prove the case, Manawatu will doubtless have a large number of candidates to select from Questions, both local and colonial, will be tested at the ballot box, and in the interests of our own electoral district, we hope to hear a large number of persons have placed their names on the roll during the current year. One other consideration may bo mentioned. Should a re-disiribution of the seats take place, Manawatu will claim two members instead of one. We have advocated this on more than one occasion. In pressing our claim in Parliament the numerical strength of our electoral roll will be a great consideration. Therefore it should be increased by tho addition of the name of every qualified elector.