West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1860.

West Coast Times, Issue 240, 29 June 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1860.

Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, and the consequent difficulty of travelling, Mr Sale, the Returning Officer, left town yesterday morning for Greymouth, for the purpose of receiving the nominations of candidates for the representation of that district in the Provincial Council, in accordance with the instructions of the Writ of Election. We are of course not informed as to Mr Sale's arrival at his destination in time to perform the duties of his office. We are in receipt of the " Grey River Argus" of yesterday, but its contents afford no indication of the turn affairs were . likely to take. The fact seemstqbe accepted there that no valid or legal election can take place, and that whatever members may be returned, they will require to have their rights to their seats legalised by a special Act of the General Assembly. There can be no doubt that such is the case ; but there can be as little doubt that Mr Sale will proceed to give effect to the interpretation he has himself put upon the law as it stands. Assuming that the elections can only be legally carried through upon the basis of an electoral roll, it is contended by our northern friends that the proper course would be to procure the postponement of the elections until after the Ist October next, on which day the electoral rolls prepared for Westland will come iuto effect. But there is no machinery by which such a postponement can be effected, if the Returning Officer has extracted such meaning out of the Acts and Ordinances extant, (which be appears to have done) as will justify his proceeding to take votes and make a return upon the [[writs. Even the Superintendent, had he landed in time to influence the proceedings, would have been powerless to interfere in the matter. The " Argus" is in error in assuming that the elections take place under his Honor's " proclamation." The writs of election are Bigned by tho Governor, and were issued before the return of Mr Moorhouse to the Superintendency. The only relief from the difficulty would be the general consent of the constituencies to abstain altogether from the nomination of candidates, and thus give Mr Sale the opportunity of making no return. But it is certain that no such course as this will be adopted. Nor would it be advisable to deprive Westland of representation altogether in the Provincial Council for tho period of three months, which will elapse between this and October — nor then to substitute the comparatively small number of claimants whose names are on the list, for the great body of miners' lights and business license holders, who, however unwittingly disfranchised, must be regarded, nevertheless, as the real political constituency of this district of tho province.

The public will, we have no doubt, be content that the elections shall take place under the ruling of Mr Sale, that all holders of rights and licenses for a consecutive period of six months prior to the day of polling are entitled to vote— provided ho do not further interpose to excrciso a power, his right to exercise which ho abandoned after argument, at tho last election for members for the Provincial, Council — that of challenging tho qualification of tho candidates put in nomination. Then, the great question of the legality of the

elections would become an open ono, and it would be a 'most proper ono for the General Assembly to deal with. Whilst Mr Moorhouse cannot, as Superintendent of the Province, interfere with the course of election, if the Returning Officer see fit to go on with it, he can, as representative of tho district in tbo General Assembly, procure the passing of an Act removing uncertainties, and amending the present law where it shall be plainly pioved to operate oppressively and invidiously. Tho provisions of such an Act need bo very simple. In tho first place, whatever returns may bo effected under Mr Sale's ruling, may be declared valid. That is within the px'ovince and power of the Assembly. Then there is the caso of tho Miners Franchiso to bo dealt with ; which may bo done by a provision enacting that the special goldfields qualification shall continuo in forcp until the end of the year 1867, or until tho second legal " roll" for tho several districts shall / havo been compiled. And then is to be considered the caso of men who linvo lrtr.t Iheir qualifications as enrolled electors by removing here from other provinces, and who have taken the very first opportunity afforded them by law of re-esta-blishing their status as citizens, by claiming to be registered. Tho grievance of this numerous class might be prudently and equitably met by a clause declaring that for tho first elections in Westland, and for future elections occurring prior to tho Ist of October next, the Electoral List passed by the Eevising Officer shall be taken to be the- Electoral Roll for tho district. Tho General Assembly has full power to enact these provisions. They are so simple and equitablo on the face of them, that it can hardly be conceived Mr Moorhouse would have any objection to recommend them to the House, with all tho weight of his influence. And it may bo safely concluded that the majority of the remaining Canterbury members, with Mr J. E. FitzGerald at their head— who must be deeply cha grined at the result of tho abortive efforts to confer the boon of representation on the West Coast—will be anxious to give them their support. We make these suggestions in no party spirit, and trust they will be considered and discussed dispassionately, without referonce to tho source from which they emanate.