The Westport Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1101, 26 August 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1873.

Thk Premier having withdrawn the Government Electoral Bills, with the promise, during the next session, to introduce a bill providing for manhood suffrage, the proposed " Act to anient] the Law relating to the Miners' Franchise." introduced by the. member for the Buller, will also of necessity lapse. The chief feature of the Bill, as printed, is a provision that " Every holder of a miner's right or business license, being duly qualified to vote at the election of a member for the House of Representatives, or a member of the Provincial Council, as by the Acts (1862-3 and 5) provided, may vote at any election of a Superintendent of a Province in which such miner's right or business license shall have been or may hereafter be issued. The object being to remove the disqualification for voting in the election of Superintendent, now resting on those who merely holding business licenses or miner's rights have not their names enrolled, by virtue of household or property qualification, on the Electoral 801 lof the Province wherein such election may ensue. To give, in fact, to the migratory class of goldfields population the privilege of sharing in the selection of the Chief Magistrate of the Province wherein for the time they may reside. While the qualification to vote at the election of Provincial Councillors or members of the House of Representatives, is obtained by registration on any roll, or the holding of miner's rights or business licenses for a certain period up to the date of election, the law as regards the election of Superintendent, expressly declares that miner's rights or business licenses are not sufficient qualification, but that voters must be enrolled on the Electoral 801 l by right of one of three qualifications, viz.. a fifty pound freehold, held for six months prior to the election ; a ten pound annual leasehold or household tenure of the annual value of ten pounds, within the limits of proclaimed townships, or of five pounds outside such towns, the qualification in either case having existed for at least six months. Thus at every election of Superintendent, a number of unregistered electors, who by reason of their migratory habits, do not hold the necessary qualification,are debarred from voting; although, the same individuals may on production of their miners rights or business licenses, vote in the election of members. To remedy this incongruity the member for the Buller has introduced the Act under notice, but which apparently has little chance of passing the House during the present session. In regard to the influence the Act would have, if in exit-tence, on the coming election of Superintendent for this province, there is reason to suppose that it would exercise no material difference. The name of nearly every adult resident on the Uoldtiields is already enrolled on the Electoral Roll, and the mere holders of miner's rights and business licenses represent but a very small numerical proportion. It might possibly happen that Public Works on the South-west Goldfields may attract a floating population of workmen, whose votes, under the new Act, would materially enhance the chances of success for any local candidate; but still such votes could scarcely be depended on. Men busily engaged at work, will not, except under strong inducement, go to the poll, and the class who neglect to qualify by permanent residence, are the men who value least of all their electoral privileges. Nevertheless the nieasure,as proposed, is a good one, and the only valid excuse for its postponement is the promise of manhood suffrage hereafter.