CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume XLVIL, Issue 7748, 31 December 1890, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

tEE TERM «HOUSEHOLDER." TO TJUB BDITOB OF THE PKE3S. Sib, —Having heard ie more than once asserted that in the forthcoming School Committee elections every adulC male and female who resides in a district will be attowed by law to vote, I trust you will allow mc to make air explanation which may prevent unnecessary trouble, aud probably it is well to call attention to it thus early in order that the matter may be fully understood. The new Education Act, ISQO, says,—"Householder" means and includes every male or female person who (being the owner, lessee, or tenant) who reside* in any dwelling-house within the school,district, and the parent or guardian or other person who has the actual custody of any child attendine; any State school sitdated within such district. . . . . "Dwelling-house , shall be deemed to mean a permanent structure and shall not include a tent or other temporary shelter." In this definition of the term householder you will note ie says, "male or female person," and hot male and female person, and it refers to the owner, lessee, or tenant who resides in any dwelling-bouse in the singular number. Tliesefore the idea which is being circulated that every adult person will be entitled to vote is quite mitleading. To some minds this Act may appear ambiguous. For instance, in this very section, which goes on to say "tbe parent, or guardian, or other person who has the actual custody of any child attending any State school" is included within its meaning, it would appear that this allows a bachelor "owner" who resides 'In a dwelling-house to vote, also his housekeeper, who has children of her own, as. then , parent. It seems equally clear that « person who Is farming children has a •Vote., bdt no one has a vote whose, in this cense, children are not attending the State school.—Yours, &c. One Interested.