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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 115, 25 April 1884, Page 2

Although our chances of two elections is now about nil, we must not forget that in the ordinary course of events we are bound to have one in six or seven months time at the latest, and very possibly earlier. A short time ago it was proposed to make up the electoral rolls, and to print them with all despatch, but the necessity for such hurry having passed away with Mr. McDonald’s probability of re signing, it is intended to make use of the extended time for further completing them, and at the same time, purging them as far as possible. In urging all properly qualified voters to get their names enrolled without delay, perhaps it might assist those who have not taken the trouble to do so hitherto, either from want of interest in the matter or from ignorance as to the necessary qualification, to state that all they have to do, providing they have been in the Colony twelve months and in the district six months, is to apply to the Registrar for a form which they have to fill up in the presence of an elector who signs it, when it is handed back to the Registrar, who is allowed fifteen days to make any inquiries as to the truth of the statements therein contained. At the end of that time the name of the applicant must be added to'he roll, providing there is no flaw found in the declaration. If any objectionable cause can be found why the name should not be placed on the roll written notice must be given to the person objected to, and in the event of his persisting in having his name placed on, an appeal to a Magistrate must be made by the objector At present it appears that the matter as to whether the applicant is a properly qualified person or not lies entirely in the hands of the elector certifying to the same by signing the application form lu a place like this, where everyone knows every other body’s business better than his own, there is not much likelihood of many fictitious claims being sent in but in large centres there is plenty of scope for the exercise of fraud without much chance of detection, and it is now found necessary to take some steps for purging the rolls by eliminating some of the most glaringly unqualified names from the same. It is generally the practice in the Old Country, shortly before the rolls are compiled, for each party to carefully overhaul them and take steps to have all disqualified opponents names erased, and at the same time to see that all their friends names are duly recorded. On the other hand their opponents check them iu like manner, and by these means the rolls are kept in tolerable order. This plan should certainly recommend itself to us, as it appears to be the most practical method of dealing with the difficulty, but in the absence of any political association the duty must devolveupon the executive. The present residential qualification gives all but manhood sufferage, and we hope that all legally qualified persons will at once take the necessary steps for ensuring the due exercise of the privilege which is accorded them by the Qualification of Electors Act.