MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 August 1938, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

* OUR FIRST ELECTION. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age”) The Act giving New Zealand a constitution was passed in 1852, when the Queen personally remarked, “and may it promote the welfare and contentment of that distant but interesting colony.” It had some startling features,- of which these were but a few: — The franchise to include Britishers with a freehold of £5O or a leasehold of £lO. The obligation of 1846 under which a Maori voter was required to read and write English was cut out. Both races were given equal rights. Stewart Island and Chatham Islands were not included. Otago was the largest province and New Plymouth the smallest. The House of Representatives had 37 members, .the Provincial Council of Auckland had 24, Wellington 18, Nelson 15, Canterbury 12, Otago 9, and New Plymouth 9. Only 100 Maoris were on the electoral roll. Men whose only political influences in England were to throw brickbats, became voters in New Zealand. The first elections under the Act were held in 1853, when 13 years of irresponsible rule made the people far more anxious to rule themselves. From the announcement to the day of the election, the eight Colonial newspapers were filled with editorials, advertisements, letters, personalities and squibs concerning the several hundred candidates for the 124 seats. It was not to be wondered at that several actions for libel followed. A bitter controversy between the proprietors of the Auckland and the Wellington papers gave rise to both mirth and hatred. These two men, Brown and Williamson, subsequently became Superintendents. Maori non-electors, who were as ten to one, joined in the hilarity which soon dispelled the bitterness.