EDUCATIIONAL FRANCHISE BILL.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 1, Issue 8, 6 July 1886, Page 2

EDUCATIIONAL FRANCHISE BILL.

Major steward, in uioiing tlie eervusl re*. Img of Una BilL said it contained ■ •>!.* two pro' isioiis, both of w hn-h liad b*u slhrme-l oy the House. With regard to the peoposal to do away with th. emu ole I live vote, he said he felt Confident that the gentlemen who had supported huu in it were barite-1 up by public opsnun. He regretted that the Munster of Education had taken up a hostile attitude toward* thu Bill ; and ha eetilendad that the cumulative vote did not. as tha Minister believed it did. give a Air representation to rmnoritias. The Minister also objects-1 to thu proposed reform because Iu dal not like the education eyeteui of the Colony to be interfered w itb. Tin*. Major Steward contended, was a weak argument, tha inference of which was that if lb* system was touched th* whole edifice would fall to the ground. He would point out also, that Uu cumulative vote was not a part ef Uu ivnginsl education scheme, hut wee embodied in it ui another place. Th* other new prov iskmi aas to define Uu term “ householder." foe ahich definition experience had shown lha* there aas great used, lie alluded to th* difficult!** that ar<«e under the Act in thu way. and uutaiicad several re markable elections. In one rase, he sa l, . 11l Taranaki, a number of young P*. q-l# I who wiatud to obtain ths us# ,d the School risun for dancing classes attended the alectiun. and eis-cte-1 a committee from tluuuelve*. He protmasd in thu Bill that " householder" should mean every male aisi female adult resident, owner, leases, or lanaiit of any dwelling in Uu dutricl who had resided f-c six luoiitlu in this district.

The Premier said Iu would support the Bill if the lion, number would agree to give a vote to every person over ffl years of age, and li t the cucuiulativs v .its stand at three. He ithr I*reinieri did not say that th* cUi'Uinlative vote system was Jierfect. but lu contended that it gats a voice to unuonties. 11s asked where the grievance was that gave ns* to tins Bill —where was it mad* 7 11# should uiovA to amend th* Bill in coiinuittse in th# direction hs had indicated. 11* would even go further, and exteud the fraiiGnse to all over 18 year* of agr, for hr waViol afraid to trust the educational even tu m f ths hands of the young |*e »jdr who hail been Irauieii under It.

The Bill ssvfrval s second time by 3h fii *J4.