FRANCHISE REFORM.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 344, 22 September 1898, Page 4

FRANCHISE REFORM.

TflE following resolution was passed by the Ohiuemuri County Council, and ordered to be circulated : (1). The franchise is conferred on persons who contribute nothing to the rates, and who may be recipients of charitable aid contributed by the County Council, and the power is given to such persons to vote for loans by which the county will be burdened for years to come, and to be clegible as chairman or councillors to impose the rates ; (2) in the case of persons enrolled as freeholders, no provision ia made requiring them to pay the rates due on their property before recording their votes, and the finances will likely be greatly lessened in consequence ; (3) in the case of all enrolled as elector.'-: who are married, a double vote is given for thi' same qualification, viz., to the husband and the wife ; (4) in the case of a poll taken regarding a loan to be raised, the matter will be settled by a bare majority of those who record their votes, and this may be a small minority of all the ratepayers who willjiavc to bear the burden ; (5) the natural effect of such provisions, if brought into operation, will be to increase the rates and loans, and depreciate correspondingly the value of all the property in the county ; (G) No evils resulting from the existing laws regulating the administration of County Councils have been shown to warrant such drastic and destructive changes as are proposed by the aforesaid Bills; (7) That copies of the foregoing resolution be sent to the Members of tho Legislative Council, the Members of the House of Eepresentatives, and the local bodies interested.