THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3488, 28 February 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1880.

It is probable that but a small number of our readers are aware of tlie great changes whjch have been effected Ln^fej Acts.. passed^d^Dg^Jthe^aS^-ser^Jon of "^arliament/entitled V The Qualification of Electors Act, 1879," and " The Registration of: Electors Act, 1879."-- As will be observed from the' titles, the first jAct defines the qualification of electors, land Jhe^ ,second prescribes the mode in which such electors shall be placed upon an Electoral Roll, entitling them to vote at elections of members of the House of Representatives. It would appeal to us that "Tlie.Registration of Electors Act" ■will effect the object for which it has been pasled, with a minimum of trouble ;to the electors, and of expense to the colony;' and we presume that our contemporary the Advertiser, in characterising the Act as ■" a somewhat complicated piece of machinery in detail and likely to cause considerable confusion at an election," must. have somewhat misunderstood its provisions. The extension of the franchise has been so liberal under "The Qualification of Electors Act 1879 " that we may state broadly that every man of the age of twenty-one years or upwards who has resided for one year in the colony, and in an electoral district for six months, is entitled to be registered as an elector. This is called the residential qualification. The freehold qualification prescribed by the Act 13 as follows :—Every man of the age of twentyone years or upwards having of his own right a freehold estate in possession situate within the electoral district of the value of tw en ty-fire pounds, and of or to Which he has been seized or entitled either at law or in equity, for at least sis: calendar months. Under the Act the Maori element at elections, for some time at least, will be practically abolished, as no Maori it ho is not a male of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, enrolled upon a ratepayers roll in force within 'the electoral district, or seized in severalty of a freehold estate of the value of twenty-five pouads, will be entitled to be registered as an elector. Aliens and persons convicted of crime are disqualified. Such being the qualifications of the electors we proceed to notice a few of the leading provisions of " The. Registration of: Electors Act," the duties of carrying which into effect now devolves upon Mr Albert. J. Allom, J.P., as Registrar of Electors, who will at once begin to form a new roll for this district by placing thereon the names of all persons qualified, and who are on.theroll now in force. -No time will be lost:in making the new roll,;, as Mr Allom has been instructed that it is the intention of Grovernment to bring it into force on the Ist May next, and in the meantime it is provided by law that the present roll shall continue in operation. It is further enacted the t it-shall be the duty of the Registrar, from time to time, with a view to make the roll as complete as possible, to place thereon, or add thereto the name of every person of whose qualification as an elector, he is satisfied, and to aisure himself of the right of every man. to have his name retained on the roll. Claims to be placed on the roll, are to be , made in a certain form, with a prescribed declaration which must be delivered at the office of the Registrar, or sent.thr. ugh the post directed to him. This may be done free of postage, but to obviate all chance of miscarriage or delay we would recommend that the claim should be addressed to "The Registrar," Electoral District of Thames, and hot to Mr Allom personally. Upon receipt of any claim the Registrar will enquire into the truth of the particulars therein stated, and if satisfied will place the name on the roll. He may call for proof of any particulars if necessary but ifc is lawful for any claimant by writing to withdraw his claim, If- the required proof be not given and the claimant fail to withdraw bis claim, ihe Registrar may take steps to have the case heard by a Resident.Magistrate. If the Registrar fail to appear at the time and place appointed, the case will be dismissed, and the Registrar will forthwith place the name of the claimant upon the roll; but if the claimant fail to appear an order will be made by the 'Resident Magistrate that the name of the claimant shall not be placed on the roll. If both

parties appear, the onus of proof, is • the claimant, and the Resident Magistrate will decide for or against him. The costs will be at the discretion of the Court. Names of persons on the roll may be objected to by the Registrar or any person whose name is on the electoral roll, and similar proceedings in the Court will be adopted, but no grounds of objection shall be entertained except such aa are specifically - Bet forth in the summons. One pound, as security for costs shall be deposited with the Clerk of the Resident Magistrate's Court by any objector other than the Registrar. Names may be transferred from one roll to another, but this cannot be done after the issue of an election writ until after the return of such writ. Power is given to the Registrar to remove the name of; every person, from the roll upon his written request,-and of every person whose' death shall be proved, but not after the? issue of aa election writ until the completion of the said election.. The remaining portion of the Act contains the following provisions.:—Penalty for false declarations, alphabetical arrangement and numbering consecutively, custody and inspection of rolls, printing and re-printing with additional names, how notices may' be given, and a few other particulars of minor importance. ,■"