The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3961, 8 September 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1881.

In a late article we pointed out some of the defects, of the Representation Bill, especially referring to the clauses giving the right to the property qualification in more electorates than one. How such a power may be abused by wealthy men, will ba. appareut wbeu we mention a few

facts. In the Auckland District an additional member has been gi^en, and although the elections ure to take place /throughout the Colony on the same day, there is notking to prevent a man voting in eleven districts, he holding freehold property therein. The hours for polling, it must be borne iti/ mind, had been extended, in order" .no doubt to give time for voters to record their votes in as many different places as possible. In Hawke's Bay, one uew member has been given, and there are four electorates in that district where electors may vote on the same day. In Wellington two new members, and a man can vote in every electorate throughout the province. In Nelson the same can take place; in Canterbury seven electorates are added, and two additional through the division

of Christchurch, so the increase is nine, and in the whole twenty-one under the present bill, a man may vote in the one day with the greatest ease.' In the neighborhood of Duuedin twelve electorates can be reached. From these facts it may be seen at a glance how the electorates may be utilised, and the rolls stuffed with property qualifications, in order to, secure the return of men favorable to the wealthy class. The poor man mast vote on his residential qualification, and in the particular ward, as Mr Hall called them, or electoral division of the city he may. happen to reside in. And yet the bill is called a Liberal measure, in keeping with the extension of the franchise, and the acknowledgment of manhood suffrage, just because it adopts the principle of representation on a basis of population—a Liberal cry. Those who try to make people swallow such an imposture must think the people of the colony I are very easily deceived. The poor man is counted in the calculation for representation and allowed one vote; the rich is counted at 4he value of a dozen to twenty-one poor men, if he succeeds in purchasing a quarter-acre allotment in a corresponding number of electorates. Is ii any wonder that true liberals repudiate the title of the measure as a .Representation Bill, and call it by quite a [different name. We would not be surprised if the country at large will show its appreciation at the next elections, of the efforts made by the present Liberal Government to supply the demand of the people for a redistribution of the representation, in quite a different manner from that anticipated by the framers of the new bill.