THE FRANCHISE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5256, 28 January 1878, Page 3

THE FRANCHISE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES Sir, —In each of the public speeches lately made by the Premier to colonists in different parts of the North Island it has been announced, inter alia, that the present Government intend to extend the franchise so that every man residing in a district should have a vote. A statement of this kind, coming from the source it does, is one of very great importance, and should attract the earnest attention of all settlers in the colony—those already holding the franchise as well as those without it—for, setting aside all party or class feeling, it is very desirable in the interest of the colony at large that, before sanctioning any change such as is proposed, all parties interested should have obtained full and accurate information on the subject, and have given it due consideration. In -this colony, however, there are, comparatively speaking, few persons who are not too much occupied with their business to be able to give much time to questions of this kind, and consequently it is from the newspapers that, in a great measure, information and opinions are obtained. It is for this reason I now address you, sir, in the hope that you will bring this subject prominently before your readers. Now, either an extension of the franchise is retmired or it is not. If it is required, it is because the present law excludes some important sections of the community from placing themselves in a position to exercise a vote at elections for members of Parliament, and if this is the case, no doubt such a change should be made in the law as would put an end to this state of things and give a fair chance to all. Only let the circumstances be clearly understood, and the general feeling of fair play which prevails throughout the colony will remedy the hardship. There may be more directions than one in which it is desirable to alter the franchise ; if so, let it be pointed out. If, on the other hand, an extension of the franchise is not required, surely it is (to say the least) extremely unfortunate that the Premier, of all persons in the world, should be the one to agitate the question. As the law now stands, it would seem that any man who owns the freehold of a piece of land worth £2 a-year, or is the occupier of a house worth £5 a-year, can get his name placed on the electoral roll, and thereupon becomes entitled to a vote. No doubt it is necessary that his application to have his name placed on the roll should bo made at a certain period of the year, and not just at any moment ; but such a restriction will not probably be objected to. Again, it is necessary that the man who bases bis application upon the occupation of a house should give some proof, by the length of the term during which he has so occupied, that he is a hona tide settler in the country. And this restriction, again, will probably not meet with any serious objection, for persons without a fixed residence, and without any property in the country, can hardly complain that they are not allowed to take part in the government of that country. This would seem to touch upon the questions of the miner’s right to a vote ; but there are circumstances which make their case an exceptional one. Mr. Montgomery, however, appears to object to the miner’s vote, whilst he advocates an extension of the franchise. It would ho very desirable to make the grounds of the different opinions regarding the extension of the franchise generally known, and I hope that this letter may lead to such a result.—X am, *c., Civw.