The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, April 5TH., 1913. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1083, 8 April 1913, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, April STH., 1913. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Considerable interest is being manifested in the forthcoming municipal elections, and a record enrolment has taken place. It is a pleasing evidence that the people are anxious to discharge their duties of citizenship. All those who have not yet enrolled should do so on or before the 16th inst. Those entitled to the franchise are classed asunder, namely : “Freeholders” : that is, persons who are the beneficial and registered owners of a freehold estate in any land in the borough of the capital value of not less than £ 25. “Ratepayers” : that is, persons whose names appear in the “occupiers” column of the valuation roll in respect of rateable property within the borough. “Residential” ; the residential qualification is of two grades, (a) persons who, for not less than three months past have been in occupation as tenant or sub-tenant or as one of several tenants or sub tenants holding in joint tenancy, or tenancy in [common, the whole or any portion of any house, warehouse, offiqe, shop or other building in the bfirough under a tenancy, the rent under which is not less than £lO per year for the tenant or sub-tenant, or as the case fnay be, for each of the several tenants or sub-tenants, and (b) persons who have resided in New Zealand for one year and in the borough of Foxton during three months last past, and who must be British subjects, either by birth or by naturalisation in New Zealand. This latter provision wid.*ns the residential qualification so as to make it practically the same as the Parliamentary franchise. All the above qualifications are applicable to persons of either sex, provided they are of the full age of 21 years. A qualification possessed by a husband gives his wife the same right, and vice versa. Where the rating qualifications have been lost, the persons concerned may still be entitled to a residential qualification on application fo the Town Clerk in writing on the proper form. Only persons possessing “freehold” or “ratepayer” qualifications are entitled to vote on loan proposals. In respect to the nomination of candidates, it may not generally be known that when nominating a candidate for the Mayoralty, has to be lodged, and in the case 'of candidates for the Borough Council, and Harbour Board, the sum of £$ each has to be deposited. If successful, the money is returned, but if any unsuccessful candidate fails to poll oneeighth of the total votes polled by the lowest successful candidate, his deposit is made forfeit to the district fund.