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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5406, 25 July 1878, Page 2

Fbom time to time members of the House of Representatives '' who were' amongst the strongest supporters of Sir George Grey have given expression to their views on manhood suffrage, and it has been.extraordinary to soa how widely their views differ from those enunciated by their chief in Parliament and at public meetings. The last instance of this is to be found in a speech delivered by Mr. Thomson, M.H.R. for Clutha. After referring to the existing franchise and proposed amendments, ho said 1 “ X don't think it is a very right thing that wo should have on the electoral roll a large number of men who have no stake in the country at all. I have heard it said that wo may , presume . that a single" man, living in lodgings, has quite as much intelligence as a householder—a married mail perhaps, who has a number of sifualling children about him. But I think that a man who has a small bit of-property in the country is more likely to liavo an interest in the welfare of the country than one who has not, and I should certainly have more confidence in him than in a man who could leave the country at any j moment. (Hear, hear.) And.it must, he) remembered that this country has borrowed a great deal of money. I don’t think it right therefore that people should have the privilege of electing representativesto tho General Assembly who would go iu for borrowing large sums of money, tor there pan bo no doubt of this—that the burden must ultimately fall on the property of the colony. (Applause.), These generally are ray views. -l anj not an extreme man in cither direction, and shall not be prepared to- support any very .extreme measure.”’ From the above it is quite evident that Mr. Thomson does not feel disposed to support a proposition for giving every man “ one vote and no more.” :