THE ELECTORAL ROLL.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 782, 28 February 1871, Page 2

THE ELECTORAL ROLL.

(To the Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus.) Sir, —The registration of claims to vote upon the Electoral Roll should occupy the attention of all persons who have any in ten st in the progress of this district. The principal barriers that exist to the advancement of the Nelson South-West Goldfields generally, and the Puller District in particular, are first, the want of local self-govern-ment —secondly, tho inadequate representation accorded to these goldfields in the General Assembly. These barriers must be removed simultaneously. In order to obtain increased representation it is necessary that we should show that we are entitled to it, even according to the standard which has been adopted—that standard is the Electoral Roll. It is argued that miners and persons living in tents are not entitled to the full franchise, and that we are represented according to the regular scale in force throughout New Zealand, and in proportion to our numbers on the Roll. The fact that so few names are on the Electoral Roll upon the goldfields is ignorantly—l had almost said dishonestly—used as an argument in support of the present basis of representation. We have it now in our power to deprive our political oppouents of this their principal argument, aud it is very much to be regretted that some public spirited individuals do not combine for the purpose of doing so thoroughly. It is the more necessary that something of the kind should be done in consequence of the part which the Government, and officials generally, take in throwing every possible obstacle in the way of registration. In other parts of New Zealaud it has been notified through the press that the months of January, February, and March are the mouths appointed for receiving the formal applications for registration; and convenient places have also been aopoiuted where those forms are to be deposited : but here no public notification whatever has been given, if I may except the superscription which appears, in such very small characters, upou a box nailed to the wall in the passage leading to the office of the lt.M.'s Court in this town, to which box, I may remark, all applications must be brought from a district having a coast line of 100 miies! The Upper Buller District I look upon as already incurably disfranchised for this year! It would have been easy for those persons who were appointed to take the census to have distributed and collected the registration forms, but that opportunity has gone by, and it is not at all likely that applicants will travel a distance of from.2s to 60 miles for the sole purpose of registering. If a place for receiving the forms were appointed at the Inaugahua, possibly, a percentage of those entitled might still put in their [claims ; but, [as I have before observed, it is not likely that either the Government or those in authority under it will facilitate registration in those parts. In this way, it happens that very few, indeed, are aware that we are now in the last month of the term appointed for the purposes of registration. If the Government of the country desire to deal fairly with the goldfields, why have they not given a proper and timely notice ? Why do they persist in not giving reasonable facility for having the claims recorded, which could easily and inexpensively be done, by appointing places at the different centres of population, say for instance, the different Post Offices, and also by doing as is done elsewhere —to provide forms of application ? If this afforded the means of extorting from the public an increase to the general revenue, it would be done. But it is even of greater importance to the Colony at large, the whole merit of our representative institutions being at stake. Nevertheless, if the inhabitants of this district desire to defeat a scheme to ignore their right?, personal sacrifices must be made, and a great deal of activity shown. Last year, not satisfied with throwing obstacles in the way, and withholding all assistance—even after the applications were received—to my knowledge absurd and groundless objections were raised against many of the applicants, which objections were made good by the revising officer holding his Court at Cobden, from two to five days' journey from the residences of those against whom the objections were laid. The community should watch the proceedings this year, that the trick, if it was one, may not be repeated. In conclusion, I . urge that it is the duty of all who have the necessary qualifications, to claim their electoral franchise—the qualification is a house value five pounds per annum ; or lease or freehold, not under £lO per annum. One of tho minor diffi. culties in connection with the subject has been supplied by the public spirit of the local press, which has ah eady, I find, supplied and partially distributed forms gratuitously. Yours, &c, Philos.