The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, OCT, 16, 1874.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 15, 15 October 1874, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, OCT, 16, 1874.

THB-Quali^cafipn pf- .E)jectora' 3.i1.L introduced by the Government: daring last Session having* given much dissatisfac- ' tibnto leadifigf' sh^orters of the^Go,-/ vermriefit wa^^aflowed' to lapse. As it Mi k°gsWsMs ?£ Pty,&?*l&W$ djit questions wbict-were before the Assenibly, will' assuxpdly T -re-appear next^-isioii^; few- /ema^s -upon- the subject may be o£use,,TKe.Eill has been delrlrM^'Mefe^ \ogs& imiiugriintS'tp -sw^p-^eNotes, of t^e7blaerx;ofon^t% < as.a si^ea^onof the-<^Btit«laoi^ J>y*' lonsP^tf ft&bit the anomaly tJme-thwgold'miners' franchise (ion cede*" pafivdUgestO'thettiJ which sire .denied *lf>,ioJbM* tVJipj?ft^Jaiwsj <lesefve equal consideration. The Bill of lsst '■ paJCialtty^by^atte&pti^iil^^o&mbrous sort of way^,•* ; to'-attive , at Universal Sif-_ |'■ #agfe.-f -UndSr ; 'the 'pr^sen^system noj feaS^e**^^ A^rAm^Bmsxmhm^{m9\\ o f itself, as.aiim^aassuraacaitaafc the^prmlege will not he abused when .acquired, for true ; it r is iticafcaaanyrjYaltte -things only iii ; wtea tether Have, with whom we nave met depjgre.pniversal Suffrage tfißDthe curse*" of thpir •ooun&y. ..;shers, .hqwfivaj^;-^ Senate, by the manner of its. election-is^ to sopae e_d*.tit,¥f!sdn..^ or mo^ e .j^ v .m^^^Js9!in #ie^thfij.-brjw4pf,^ > l^g^M^i m • I-feW Zealand Universal. Buffcage would ■flTeet' i; th8 3i Hottee 7, dl* -fiepr-es^tatfvfes, Ministry would. nb'minnte -the. Cohncjlj scend t*e*svnp<yra^.-the ;z^arpc^w.e. approaoh \ aat atate of no-jf overnment,

I- m#ift^^## w thej balance ofGoverameji&pr grant concessions •3 r#«gls cajvijexf f. J?p j Taxation , k -Without -representation iis , ipconsi^tent .- .*Wlifis^oifi>,and'every taxpayer as fetich 1 •shoaid'hav#a?v6te. ? -The difficulty 'arises Hbw^eVgthaT Jby;. grantihg' Hhis ufedri-* niabie^ fight 'lo all; witnout conceding - $9M& balancing- advantage' to ithhse .who i iavemiorei interest in the country than* ; (.he '&loth4s- they wear, we" swamp their I '^M^^^^l^BtalfL'^e^p^s^ wrong, many; intelligent men, such for instance as= the'late?Arch- : 'bSSbc^-Wh&i^ly^and'even it is said the present Prime Minister of England, recognise that in representative Govern^ 1 mgjjTts as i4%reat ' jcorporatibns or companies, thdypting of the shareholders, Dr-tftffiikftrtiifi) limits, should Ifepomewhatproportionate to the interests ijhey ,-hold in the concern. „ .? . :- • The present w Electoral Law of jthis .Gdlon^luV expensive, unfair) and un--satislactoryv' and < imposes needless de--la?fe;«diffieultie^ and official 'Complica--tfons'u^dT_ inten'dih'g electors.' As an : _Ln?pmvj_ment. _.we_ would .. sugges't_ that . e^erppdcson/zwhoseiname appeal 1 , upon the county rate roll, should be M&facto 4ri'el€&tSt h 6f that : county. arid the col.lector's^receiptt for -..payment of'r^tes,' should be, the -authority ,to vote, v), At- an • ; eiec^on„the.,y,oser should sign. his. name m~the election- book, the returning ;pfljcer "eht.ering'. opposite the signature thp. humbferbf the vote and 'the qualification.; of the vbteri and marking the number I ion -the hallo tipaper. As an additional -qualification, ■?. and -conferring-* a-, second y^tp^.any; perspn . born in or naturalised m anVpart of the British dominions, and! having resided in any electoral distHdt?f6r!..ix months previous to his api!jsiic&ftdh,'should'be entitled on paying. ■ a small fee {as is the case in (the' United States), tp^sjgn his, name in the voting; register, ana to receive a voting- right -available ( for ope year. ( - As in the pro- ;- pWiy^ualificatidh vote; the -elector un.-: ; der the, second pr-pprspnal^qualificationy 'would required ah election also to sign ■is/Abe -election jjook .to pre vent pprsonation, which should be punishable as dritifinU j^butluhder this'system} if pro-- | perly conducted, personation would be ' scarcely 'possible. ' The fees would cover (expenses, and ; any balance could go to Ideal ' Hospitals; or other local -purposes,; Criminals, 7 lunatics,' and persons who could not-read or Write, would alone be ■ disqualified. -.- - - -- * -♦ _ j ,-. . W__s have to calf the 'attention of our Tokomairiro readers to the announcenierft in' 1 another column by W. A. . : Muri^j*y Ssq./M.H.R. for Bruce, that he will 'address the electors in St George's Hail. Milton, on the evening of Friday, the 23rd inst. We need scarcely point out the desirability of a large' attendance upon tbe occasion This, is desirable as ,an act of courtesy, if nqt of. encouragement to a member who has for so long a period fully and fairly represented the mind of his con'fetiftienW. *' Tt is desirable also in consequence .of the, present unsettled state of political affairs throughout the Colony, and the conflicting information afforded, and divided sentiments which prevail regarding the same in the public minrLr.r.N-O-. doubt ,Mr Murray .will, as u-sual, giyejajull account not only of nis 'own action during the recent session ''-of Assembly, ''- y but also of the measures which were then legislated, or proposed to be. legislated 'upon. ' " Amongst those which in all likelihood Iwili, receive most prominence jwiU.bfi-the^famous .abolition resolutions introduced Jby the Premier* and passed by the Assembly.'! We^know of ho one m'preic-piftpptppt tp deal with the question^ pr is : more likely to treat it in a fair and impartial spirit, than what is Mr'Ma'rVay. Although the representa*-"c?->stituency in the General Assembly, it is well jkppwn that he holds a large stake in the North Islarid 1 as well 'as in the- South, and is therefore not likely to be prejudiced by what is regarded by some as merely the personal feelings of a number, of the Southern members upon the subject. .Moreover, the close of each session of* Assembly Mr Murray makes a 1 tour „o f; ,j^p North Island,, is intimately, acquainted with the members for the 1 ! Northern * constituencies, and ; knows their. ininds upon the various questions wherein a difference of opinion is likely ; ; -io«-ari§e betwpen .j^prth and South, tie has also seen and studied their institutions, et!Pn their -working,' and can judge of their efficiency or otherwise, and can confidently give his own opinion as jto ~jthe _ neces§ity ,for their abolition . or pre/ser^OTipnVy^Ftdm \ all ttiese';c6nsiaWa- ' .tipnst^wje ]ppk upon Mr Mujray's/meetas amongst the most, important which has yet been heldsinee the close of the session.^ We therefore urg*e a full at--- --•; ten4an\ee of tlie electors pp., Friday next weekfi . .; -.- ,;t'v- . ■ ; -. .- ', ..* :