THE BALLOT NOT SECRET.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2104, 2 January 1886, Page 4

THE BALLOT NOT SECRET.

Since the election the other day, i3veral people have spoken to us in regard to the system of numbering the ballot papers, and have asked wbetner this did not en able the scrutineers, if they so wished, to find out how pel sons voted. Knowing that this question had been raised and fully argued out when the ballot Hyatem was first introduced into this colony, we were inclined to ridicule any fear of the kind, and to declaro at onco there was no danger of tho secrecy of the ballot being violated through the pahcrs being num bered, and that it was absolutely forbidden to anyone to look at the numbers except by order of a Court of competent jurisdiction, in order to pick outaceitain paper in case of judicial piocrudiugd. On looking closely into the matter, however, we made a startling discovery. This is, that tho ballot in local elections is not surrounded with the same piecautious to ensure secrecy as are provided in regard to elections for the House of Representatives, and that there is nothing in the regulation of Local Elections Act to prevent either the Returning Officer, his clerk?, or the scrutineers knowing for whom the vote of any number elector is given. It U true that all nre sworn not to disclose any fact coming to their knowledge, but the information, if posseised, might be acted upon in a variety of ways without being disclosed. The Act regulating the House of Representative elections provides that the Returning Officer in opening and counting the ballot papers to make up the returns " shall open and after such opening both abstain himself from inspecting the writing upon the back of the voting papers and take care that the same is not seen by any person present before the papers are enclosed in a sealed parcel." No similar provision is contained in the Regulation of Local Elections Act, which simply enacts that at the close of the poll the boxes shall be opened in tho presence of the scrutineers, and then the Returning Officer or his deputy shall "make up from the voting papers deposited therein the number of voter recorded by each candidate." The numbers are directed to be gummed down in the case of elec- < tions to the House of Representatives, but this is not done in the case of local elections. Indeed, in regard to the latter, it seems to be quite understood that Returning Officers, deputies, clerks, and scrutineers may know or learn how any elector votes, for it is expressly provided that any of them who " shall make known for which candidate any voter has voted, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than L 50." This is a very poor sort of precaution, and one like the oath easily evaded. It should be rendered practically impossible for any of them to know for ' which candidate any elector votes. Under present circumstances the ballot in the case of local elections is not securely secret. The Act ought to be at once amended to make it bo.— Wellington Poet.

A variable mind is not apt to be a very able one. CIIEVREUIL, the celebrated chemist, it is said, eats only two light meals in twentyfour hours and drinks nothing but water. What an editor that man would have made! •' What are party lines, papa? 1 His answer did not wait ; "They're lines to fish for voters, child, With taffy for a bait.' When Fogg was told of a friend who was badly beateu about the pate, he remarked : ' Whacks on his head, eh ? That tvas indeed a. cereous matter. 1 A Valuable Article. — A remarkable silver tankard has lately been manufactured, into the sides and lid of which aree set " a giorno" — that is, in such a manner that both face and reverse are visible — a series of British coins from Caesar to Victoria. Some of these are ex ceedingly valuable, and have takdn a long time to collect. Indeed, it was only the other day that a perfect penny of the time of Eegbeorht (Egbert) was discovered, after some years' careful research. This coin is one of the rarest, and the specimen iv question was purchased at the late Shepherd i>ale for a large sum. It completes the series which ornaments this unique tankard, valued at 350 guineas. There are only three English Sovereigns unrepresented — Ethelbert, Edmund Ironsides, and Edward V. — it is usually believed that no fresh coin was issued during their reigns. An Unholy Lovk.— According to a dark report, a Dissenting Minister in the Highlands, who was once respected with the best of them, has fallen a victim to the passion of tobacco. Even on week days a minister of the Free Kirk might find something to do better than smoke ; but, so long as he confines himself to poisoning the atmosphere of his backgarden only with his tobacco, a free and liberal congregation would leave him alone. The rash clergyman, however, is said to go further than that. Uis infatuation for the baneful weed has tempted him to a furtive pipe on Sundays ; and with success ho has become overbold. The wild rumour has gone like wildfire through his congregation, that on Sunday nights, when they are supposed to be safe in bed, the misguided man may be seeu sitting at an open window m the manse pnffing exultingly at a small clay pipe, hie can only be seen from the top of the backgarden wall ; and it is said that on Sunday nights a row of blacV heads may now be observed peering over it. it is the kirk-session collecting evidence. The Relief of Kas^ala.— The following details of the late battle near Kassala, in which Osman Digna met his death, have been receiver! at Cairo :— The action between the Abyssinian army and the force of rebels under Osman Digna appears to have been a most decisive one, and it is certain that a most terrible defeat has been inflicted on the Hadendowas. The latter had entrenched themselves in a strong position at Kufeit. The Abyssinian General on the other hand, disposed a portion of his force, which consisted of 8000 foot, in echelon on both flanks of the rebels during the night, throwing out a body of Beni and Amir cavalry far into the rear of the rebels' position. He himself held back with a body of his troops to receive the enemy's attack. The fighting began at dawn between the Abyssinian echeloned along the enemy's flanks and the rebels, but Has Aloula was almost immediately compelled to come to the relief of his troops. The battle lasted till past noon, and ended in the complete rout of the rebels, who were cut off by the Abyssinian cavalry, 60 that scarcely a man escaped. Measures against Boycotting.— By direction from Dublin Castle, the constabulary authorities in Limerick have at least taken active measures to put down boycotting, which has reached an alarming extent. At Murroe seven farmers from the locality were prosecuted for boycotting a family named Griffin, who have recently taken possession of a farm in the neighbourhood, and from which the previous tenant had been evicted for non-payment of rent. It appeared from the evidence that ou Sunday, Sept. 27, when the Gnfrius went to mass, no one would sit near them in the church. An immense number of people assembled outside, as the family were leaving and hooted them. On the following Sunday matters became worse, and a party of police, with tixed bayonets, had to guard the Griffins to church and back ; while on Saturday, Oct. 11, the mob attempted to break through the cordon of police in charge of the stipendiary, Mr Irwin, to get at the Griffins. "Sub-Inspector Dunne said the district was in a very disturbed state, owing to the proceedings in question, though, as yet, no actual violence had been done to any of the family. Special men had to be told oB for the protection of the Griffins night and day, aud the men were greatly harassed in consequence. The Magistrates ordered six of the accused to keep the peace, and, failing to find security for their good behaviour, to undergo a month's hard labour. The prisoners, in default of of bail, were removed under escort to Limerick, and lodged in the Qonnty gaol.