The Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 525, 7 January 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1878.

Duec-g this and the two following months those persons whose names are not already on the roll, but who are entitled to the franchise, will be afforded an opportunity of registering themselves as electors. To all such we would say Lose not the opportunity of becoming entitled to exercise a voice in the Government of the counti-y. Although, according to the ordinary course of events, there should not be a general election of members of Parliament for something like three years, it is within the bounds of possibility—aye, is extremely probable—that a dissolution of Parliament will take place within twelve months. In view of the probability of such a contingency arising, it is of the utmost importance that every man entitled to the franchise should place himself in a position to be able to record a vote in support of those principles of which he approves as propounded by the candidates seeking election. We have no hesitation in saying that, great as were the additions made to the electoral roll for this district last year, there are hundreds of men in Waitaki on whom the franchise has been bestowed, but who, through want of energy or forethought, have failed so far to avail themselves of the privilege accorded them. This is manifestly a public evil, for there are times when the people themselves, by the selection of representatives, are called npon to express their approval or otherwise of questions of the most vital importance to their district and io the Colony as a whole. At such a time it is desirable that every man should express his opinions in an unuiistakeable manner through the medium of the ballotbox. It is the duty of every good citizen to take some share in the Government of the country. This he can only do by placing his name on the electoral roll, and at the proper time exercising the most glorious of the privileges accorded to free men. To be able to have a voice in the choice of the rulers of the country, is a privilcgs about the assumption of which titer? should be no apathy, and we therefore hope that every man in the district whose name is not at present on the electoral rol!, but who is entitled to the franchise, will at once see that the omission of past years is rectified by at once registering his claim to vote for the choice of representatives.