The New Electoral Bill.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 30 May 1891, Page 3

The New Electoral Bill.

;.,: The Electoral Bill is out. An amending and- consolidated measure :^4tis,' of 167- clauses, covering the ■*■>„ whole machinery of regulation. The ■ chief of the new provisions are — (1) Confinement of individual registraJ ol jj ;to ? |p;oiie district with' liberty of ; '** fflpi<sio the elector of the qualifica- ; tibh under which, and of the district J tfor which he may be registered. (2) Erasure from the roll as penalty for not voting. (8) Every general election day to be a public holiday, (i) Death/ of a candidate during the election io nullify the proceedings in his d^sjfcriit. (5) All betting and wagering on the result ot elections prohibited under penalty not exceeding 420. (6) Absence from any distaict not to disqualify residential electors, from voting in that district ) (if ndt registered elsewhere) provided , -"^ffiey "spend six days in the district, ] I not necessarily consecutively, within t six months of the election at which gS^hey propose to vote. With some of ' wthese provisions no fault can be found. • ;We do pot care for the single vote, , but as it is the law of the land, the ] provision regarding it in the Bill is logical and must be accepted so long as the" single vote remains. The provision for voidance of proceedings by the death of a candidate is obviously ' ajeafidttable. So are the registration provisions more especially that pro- ' vision for enabling men, who have ffiiniye. about the country, to keep ;; tflsir vote by six days' residence in • the district. But the other pro- < - visions are a travesty of democracy. ■,