THE MAORI DOUBLE VOTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 966, 31 August 1878, Page 2

THE MAORI DOUBLE VOTE.

Sib, — The Electoral Bill now beforo tho Parliament is of vast importance to the future harmony and welfare of the country. The clause on the above subject has received considerable attention, and yet, I am afraid, the natives will continue to have 'a double vole. Such .should be condemned, by all right-think-iu«T men as likely to cause ill feeling, to « ill iu n European constitaancy the ballance of power may be Jield by a handfull of native voters. If I may be allowed, I will surest a clause ov two to bo added, whereby the resident electors avill not be subjected to be swamped by native vot.ee, aud still the minority be rj-pres-eutc;! :— l. In all constituencies whore tho miraber of natives on i\w

Electoral Roll for that ponttituancy does not exceed thirty (30) per cent, of the whole, Jhe uatives slialljiot vote. 2. In a^^9 ustit .^H#|i#fiet 1 B r ! ;! ?(*e European elegjprsdo htffeS&Teod thirty (30) per cent., tn #S uro l )eilU8 shall not vote/ 3 At the .genial election^the who have bee^thus dpb^|ed f?tfm voting with shajjgjiomiatffce a candidate, whjfc Bhall be #&ted .^represent such, co^ntueucios wfl^jh haM'jthus before been O^rred. 4. At the^erai election, the i^KTopeans wh^h^v&Been debarred ehaU, .also, nominate one member, to be elected ; jUy the minorities debarred. 5. Two V™ boxes to be provided instead of one. —Why I sugrgbsf thirty per cent, is that, when the number of natives is above that in an electoral district, they would be likely to be divided; below that number —no division; The same will apply to a European electoral district. As I have no wish to take out a patent for my suggestions, perhaps some of our bush lawyers down .at Wellington may pick out an idea frpm them.— l am> & 0 J \Vaipa.