QUALIFICATION OF ELECTORS BILL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 345, 15 October 1875, Page 3

QUALIFICATION OF ELECTORS BILL.

Mr. Reynolds said: The main feature of the bill was that, upon the coming into force of the Electoral Rolls for 1876, the Miners Representation Acts would be repealed, but miners' rights were to be preserved in the meantime. A severe penalty was provided for fraudulent representations in making declaration. One of the principal objects of the bill, was to secure the lodger franchise. It must be admitted that there was a large number of people in the Colony who from circumstances were not freeholders, leaseholders or householders, and who though well qualified to exercise an intelligent opinion in the affairs of the country, were disqualified; and he thought it only •fair and desirable that that class should be afforded an opportunity of taking an interest in the passing of the laws of the Colony. The bill did not interfere with the present qualification in any way, and it was merely intended to remove anomalies in the existing law. I\o working man should be deprived of the right of having a hand in the framing of the laws of the Colony., Mr. Harrison would support the bill. It was a step in the right direction. Speaking on behalf of the miners in the district he came from, he • was certain they were prepared to see their special privilege of voting swept away. He hoped the Government would accept Mr. Webb's suggestion regarding a minimum test of education. Mr. Mervyn would support the second reading, mainly for reasons adduced by the member for the Grey Valley. A large majority of miners in Otago did not require any special qualification, inasmuch as they qualified themselves in the ordinary way. He would like to see some amendment made in the Bill to assimilate it to that of Victoria, which enabled miners to vote though their occupation did not allow them to reside constantly in one district. Mr. Bradshaw could not make head or tail of the bill. If it had any object at all, it was to deprive the miner of his special vote, which was given to him because he was specially taxed. He would not vote against the second reading, but he would sooner have seen a proposal for manhood suffrage brought down at once.