PUBLIC MEETING.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 69, 27 September 1884, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

On Saturday evening last a public meeting was held in the PulJi • Hall for tin* purpose of considering the advisability of passing reso utions, to be forwarded to Mr J. B. Whyte, onr member, re- I qu i st.ing him to press the Government to amend the laws at present in force relating to voting at county elections, etc. Mr Cuff (convener appointed by the Committee), was moved to the chair, and read the advertisement in the Ahoha News convening the meeting, and briefly referred to the reasons for holding same. The first resolution was proposed by Mr Mills, viz. : " That in the opinion of tnis meeting the laws as at present existing relating to voting at country elee tions in mining districts are mo*t unsatisfactory, and require immediate amendment." In supporting his resolution Mr Mills sai I lie did not think it would be necessary for him to speak to anybody who was present at tue late election of Mr E. K. Cooper, as they would themselves have seen the great necessity that existed for an alteration in the law. He thought i\. wis :t mo*i unjust thing that some buna fide residents who were here for the last two or three years were unable to record their vote, simply because they did not happen to have their names on the roll He said he knew one person, now present in the meeting, a large holder of interests in the district, and another, also present, who had been here f3r over three years, j neither of whom were able to record their votes at the recent election through not being on the roll. The attention of our member should be drawn to the matter and some remedy provided. He considered (at least on a goldfield) any man producing his miner's right, or his lease, or his receipt for rates, and who was a resident in the district should "be able to vote. All ratepayers and householders should have a vote in county elections, and there ought not be so much difficulty in getting one's name placed on the roll. The resolution was seconded Mr J. Gibbons, put to the meeting, and c/irried. Mr E. K. Cooper next addressed t ie meeting, and said : " I was going to make a proposition but Mr Mills has forestalled me, but, perhaps, there is something left yet. I propose the following resolution : l That J. B. Whyte, Esq., M.H R., be requested, in conjunction with tiie other Goldtields' members of the House of Representatives, to urge the Government to amend the Counties Act this session, by making provision for entitling resident, holders of miners' rights, or holders of business or residence site licenses issued a short time prior to any county election, to vote at any such election without enrolment, and that the assignee of the property of any enrolled ratepayer be entitled to vote in place of the assignor, on production of a certificate of registration of his title under the hand of the Mining Registrar.' Mr Cooper said that at the recent tlection many ratepayers were unable to lecord their votes because (through their own negligence or otherwise) t'leir names were not o-i the roll. According to Warden Kenrick's ruling anyone who goes and pays £1 fora miner's right can vote, whether his name be on the roll or not. A miner ought be as well able to vote as a ratepayer, in fact they ought all be on an equal footing. ( But why should a man have to pay £1 for tnc privilege of working in a mine at all, any more than a bushumn for working in the bush?) I contend that anyone who has paid either for a miner's right, a residence or a business site, ought have the right to vote, and the law ought to be so plain for every body to understand, that an election should not be upset by contingencies such as occurred at the late election. Let everyone have fair play. Every bo ly contributing to the revenue of the country ought have a say in the affairs of the country." The resolution having been seconded by Mr Crump, was put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. The Chairman said those present might like to know what had been done respecting the resolutions passed at the previous public meeting With regard to those referring to the railway and the bridge, etc, the reply from onr member was published in the Aroha News of t.ie nut. With respect to the petition, which was very numerously signed, referring to freehold lands, eec, it had been duly forwarded lo Mr J. B. Whyte, together with a long explanatory letter fro u Mr Pavitt (who also sent a plan showing all the boundaries of Native reserves, high sciiool-laiids, and freeholds) requesting Mr Whyte do all in his power to get the retition granted, viz : • Th n all who so wished might be placed in a position to obtain the freeholds of their property." The Chairman suid he hua

personally sounded the Nathes on the matter, and lie believed they were quite willing il.nt such should lip the ease, ami t'.at they considered if they wished to dispose of their lands they ought be able to •'< so. Resolution pioposed by Mr Crump, "That the Chairman be' authorised to foiwavd to Mi Whyte the resolutions parsed at this ii.eeling, preying him to w*e his utmost endeavours to obtain the •suggested alterations in the Ommiii-s Act." Cnrriod. Resolution proposed by Mr J. Gibbous, " Tlmt the congratulations of this meeting be forwarded *o the Premier on the able Financial Statement submitted by Sir Julius Vo«H, and tlmt out member be requested to give his support 'o the Government." Seconded by Mr Cooper. Mr Lavery said: kt I thinft v/t all know Mr J. B. Whyte well enough l>y this time, and have sufficient confidence, in his judgment, without tying his hands by any such resolution as that just named, and I beg to mo»e as an amendment that the latter portion of the sai I resolution requesting Mr Whyte to support the present Govern men t be erased." The resolution in its amended form, as proposed by Mr Lavery, was second ed by Mr Hornibrook, put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.