The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED "The Evening News," "The Morning News," and "The Echo." FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1876

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 1976, 9 June 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED "The Evening News," "The Morning News," and "The Echo."

FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1876

For the came that lacks as-fcttanc*, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance.

And the eood that wc can do.

The annual civil wars in suburban highway districts are at hand. Fierce and prolonged were these trials of strength last year, and rival factions fought " from night till startled morn." Tho proxy system was found to be a fruitful] source of evil, and it is towards this that we now desire to direct the attention of ratepayers. In widely scattered country districts, where there is a unity of interests in various localities, one man may fairly become the representative of all his neighbours, and, under such circumstances,, representation by a substitute is perfectly equitable. But there is no more reason why a suburban ratepayer should be allowed to vote by proxy than that a burgess should enjoy the same privilege. ihose who take so little interest in the

conduct of the affairs of their district, that they remain away from the only meeting held in the year, are assuredly not qualified for exercising an intelligent vote. Nor is the swamping of an election with paper votes, in defiance of a majority of those who do actively exert themselves for the general well-being, at all conducive to the good government and progress of a district. Every, one acquainted with the system knows how thoughtlessly proxies are given to the first applicant. Success is really reduced to a question of earliness in tho field and persistent cadging. It is probable that the touting has already begun, and heuco we hoist the standard and sound the battle cry: "Personal voting and no proxies." If every ratepayer refuses on principle to "iye -.roxv when he can by an- po g s ?b_Hty attend in person, he '^ & Q hia sl)are towarda the oppression of a system that is radically bad, and capable of very great abuse.