The Southland Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1872.

Southland Times, Issue 1626, 30 August 1872, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1872.

Ip the Colony of New Zealand has not been well governed, it certainly has not been for want of an abundant provision of the machinery of government, erected on a most liberal basis of representation. The profusion with which the tax-payer has been supplied with the means of taking care of his own interests extends even to the quantity of legislation regarding elections. The country at present rejoices in the possession of some fifteen or twenty electoral Acts, dealing wholly or incidentally with the subject in various ways. This state of matters appears to have attracted the attention of the Government during the recess, and to have led to the announcement in the Governor's speech that measures would be introduced to consolidate and amend the laws relating to elections. The promise has been redeemed by the introduction of three Government Bills on the subject, which have passed their second reading, and are now under consideration in the House of Representatives. They are described as the Electoral Bill — the Provincial Electoral Bill— and the Regulation of Elections Bill. The first relates to the election of members of the House of Representatives. The most important changes which it is proposed to effect in the existing system are, an extension of the franchise, and an alteration in the method of registration. The franchise, at present enjoyed by the owners of freehold estate to the capital value of £50, and the occupiers of houses to the annual value of £5, is now proposed to be extended to employes in receipt of salaries of £100 per annum and upwards, lodgers who pay £40 and upwards for board and lodging, or £10 per annum for lodging alone, and all ratepayers entitled to vote at the election of Road Boards or Municipalities. That the present franchise is tolerably liberal, and practically excludes no one from voting whose vote is worth having, has been generally conceded up to the present time. But the social development of the Colony is rapidly creating, especially in the larger towns, new conditions of society, and we consider these provisions a step in the right direction, as admitting to the body politic classes of citizens whose right to vote is at least equal to that of many electors enrolled under the existing qualifications, but who have hitherto been excluded. There is a provision that the qualification must have been possessed for six months previous to exercising the right to vote. The qualification conferred by the possession of a miner's right remains the same as at present, but it is now expressly provided that no person shall vote in virtue of his miner's right, and, also, in virtue of some other qualification, in the same district. One vote only, in each district, is allowed. This point, it will be remembered, has given rise to several disputes, owing to the absence of specific provision on the subject. All the foregoing provisions appear to us to be sensible and practical, and ifc is not likely that they will be materially altered by either House of Assembly. The next part of the Bill, which deals with the mode of registration, is, in our opinion, of even higher importance, and may possibly require more modification before it fulfils the conditions of a truly liberal and equitable electoral law. The restriction hitherto placed upon the complete representation of the people, has arisen — not from the extent of the qualification required — but from the nature of the arrangements for registration. The time during which claims to vote can be received by the Registration Officer is at present restricted to the first three months of the year, after which no claim can be received. An alteration which would leave electors at liberty to send in their claims at any time, would be a great improvement, although it might necessitate a little increase in the remuneration of the Registration. Officers. A far larger number than might be imagined of qualified persons, especially in the country districts, have up to the present time failed to place their names on the rolls, and their votes have consequently been lost to the State, owing to the action of this apparently harmless arrangement. It may be said, and with truth, that it is their

own fault, but the practical result remains the same, that they are excluded from the list of voters. The method proposed in the Bill, of sending in by post claims to vote, is very good, and only differs from the present arrangement in making that obligatory which is now merely permissive. The provision for servin 0 " notice of objection to claims, by a registered letter, at a fee of 2d, instead of by advertisement, as at present, 19 an excellent one, and we trust it will be adopted. The Provincial Electoral Bill is little more than a consolidation of the existing Acts. The Regulation of Elections Act consolidates the present law, and introduces important changes in reference to the punishment of bribery, and the decision of controverted elections. The sole power of deciding in cases of dist puted elections is placed in the hands of a Judge of the Supreme Court, before J whom the petitions must be heard, and I whose decision, both as to law and fact, ! will be final. As the whole subject is of ' considerable importance, we shall take an opportunity of further remarking upon it if the Bills should pass into law.