Municipal Francise Reform.

Manawatu Herald, 15 October 1898, Page 2

Municipal Francise Reform.

The Legislative Council having decided not to insist on its amendments in the Municipal Franchise Beform Bill it becomes law id the shape it left the House. Mr Tanner, who last year first brought the fiubjecft before the Legislature in the form of ■i private member's Bill,- wai yesterday afternoon congratulated by the Premier on the successful issue of his efforts in the direction of the reform of municipal elections. The Bill, as introduced by the Premier, extends the franchise in municipalities to all person" entitled to vote for parliamentary can 1 dates therein, and abolishes the system of plural voting at thi poll* in b ) roughs. The amend m nti mide in Committee have substituted a property basis for enfranchises nt, entitling to enrolment all pdrgoa* who possess freehold property in hnd of the value of £25 within a borough, and resi- I dential occupants who are resident in a borough, and have resided there for three months. A residential occupant is defined to mean any person who is in occupation as tenant or sub-tenant, whether joint or several, of any house, warehouse, office, shop or othar building provided that the tenancy shall be at the rate of not less than ten pounds per year for each residential occupant thereunder, Voting on the raising of loao9 or imposing of rates was, however, restricted to the present burgesea and per3on3 entitled under freehold qualification. The Bill also provided that both husband and wife should de entitled to onrolment by virtue of the necessary qualification being possessed by either of them. The amendments made in thu Legislative Council were ma. teria! ones, as the period of residence required was extended to six months whilst the special clause referring to husband and wife was stuck out, and plural voting was retained for the purpose of raising of loans. These amendments the Lower House absolutely dissented from, and the Premier and Messrs Morrisofc and J. Hutcheson drew up reasons which were submitted to the Council. On a vote being taken, a majority of one wa3 found to be in favour of withdrawing the amendments and allowing the Bill to become law as passed v by the House of Representatives, — Herald.