THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1899.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 24, 22 July 1899, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1899.

THE Premier has introduced his Bill' to amend the Rating on Unimproved Values Act. It was' anticipated that several changes would be made, for example the abolition of the three year limit which prevents a second poll j being taken for 3 years after a community has declared itself one' way or the other. Some have even hoped that a clause allowing a poll to be taken in this locality would have been introduced >,and passed.^ , However, nobody seems to have moved in the.matter and there is no mention of it tl>e new Bill. It is held that the poll was really carried in Wai- , mate but the restriction, namely that one third of' the- ratepayers' on the roil did not-

vote, rendered the vote of an overwhelming majority null and void. This latter restriction is to be abolished by Mr Seddon\4 Bill, and a simple majority ot' valid votos recorded will deter- ■ mine the result" of the poll. There" are some arguments advanced in favour of a minimum number of ratepayers going to the poll neg-' ativing its effect that are not unreasonable, l/ut we hold that' tlierrr are stronger arguments on the' other side. It can hardly btf disputed that the ratepiyer who choses to study a subject and come to an opinion on iiwh ether it is right or wrong — and who takes the trouble to record his vote, has done his duty as a citizen more honestly than the man who takes no trouble,and omits to exercise his right;? under the franchise. If nobody went to any trouble we would have nothing but stagnation. Furthermore, a number of -voters remaining away from the poll and having their votes practically recorded against a proposal, gives no idea of whether they are or are not in favour os the question' submitted to them. If the mart who votes is more worthy of consideration than the one who' stays away, then the only fair " thing to do is to- consider only' those who go to the poll. We must therefore support the alteration proposed in the Act bythePremier.