NEW BILLS.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 469, 22 October 1879, Page 2

NEW BILLS.

{New Zealand Times). The Qualification of Electors Bill, introduced by the Hon. Mr. Hall, provides that representatives shall be elected by the votes of all freehold or residential electors qualified, to vote. The freehold qualification shall be of the value of whether subject to incumbrance or not,but it must be in the possession of the person claiming to vote for at least six months before the date of registration.The residential qualification provides that every man who has resided for otoe year in the colony and in the electoral district for which he claims to vote during the six months immediately preceding the registration of his vote, and is not registered in' respect of a freehold qualification unde/

Act in respect 6f the same district, is entitled to be registered as an elector and to vote at the election of members for such district for the House of Representatives. Every man registered as an elector, but no other person, is qualified to ho elected a member for any electoral district within the colony. Any member of the House of . Representatives ceasing to be on the register as an elector shall not from that cause only be disqualified from 'continuing Such member. Holdeis of miner’s rights maj r vote upon their existing qualification during the year 1880 ; but Maoris and half-castes, living according to Maoris usage, are excluded from the Operation of the Act. The Corrupt Practices at Elections Act, Introduced bj r the Hon Mr Hall, provides that persons shall bo giiilty of bribery and corruption who shall, directly or indirectly, give, lend, or promise any money or Valuable consideration to an elector to refrain from voting-; or who shall offer, prortiise, or procure atiy place of employment, in order to induce an elector to refrain from voting, or any person who shall in consequence, procure the return of any person to the General Assembly, or Ihe vote 6f any elector at any election. person So offending shall be guilty of A misdemeanor, punishable by tine and imprisonment, and shall also be liable to forfeit the sum of £IOO to any person who shall sue for the same, together with full costs of suit. Provision is made for lona

fide legal expenses, and for the conveyance of voters to the polling booths. ■Candidates shall be deemed guilty of treating, if meat, drink, or entertainment is provided, and shall be liable to forfeit the sum taking meat* drink, entertainment, or provision, shall forfeit his vote by doing so. Every person guilty of force violence, intimidation, or undue influence, shall be liable to forfeit the sum of £SO. The names of any persons found guilty of 'bribery or undue influence shall be struck off the electoral rolls. Persons giving any refreshments on polling days shall be liable to forfeit the sum of forty shillings for each offence. No cockades, ribbons, bands of music, or marks of distinctions •shall be provided by any candidate. Any person guiltj’of personation or aiding or abetting such an offence, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years. Candidates guilty of bribery, treating, undue influence, or personation, ■shall be incapable of being elected for the same Parliament; but should any of the witnesses against snch candidates be convicted of perjury, the disqualification shall be reversed.

The Maori Representation Bill, introduced by the Hon Mr Hall, provides that every Maori twenty-one years of age and upwards, who shall not have been attained ‘or convicted of any treason, felony, or infamous oflence, is entitled to be registered as an elector, and to vote at the elections of Maori members for the House ‘of Representatives in respect of the district for which he registered. Every Maori duly registered as an elector, but no 'other person, is qualified to be a Maori member of the House of Representatives for any division of the colony under this Act. The number of Maori members to bo elected for the whole colony shall bear to the entire number of the members of ■the House of Representatives (exclusive ‘of the Maori members thereof) the same proportion as the number of registered Maori electors shall bear to the entire number of registered electors on the rolls of the several electoral districts of the colony constituted for the election of members of the European race. The colon}' is to be apportioned into divisions, and each division is to be equalised as nearly as possible as to the numbers of electorates. One representative is to be elected for each division, and Maori electoral rolls are to be formed. In all cases not provided for in this Act; those relating to the elections of European members are to apply.