MUCH ADO ABOUT A CLAUSE.

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 67, 16 September 1922, Page 7

MUCH ADO ABOUT A CLAUSE.

The Legislative Council will very often bo held up on a point which, on the surface, seems to be quite, a minor, matter^ Yesterday 'there proved to be a stumbling block in the Whakatane Harbour Amendment Bill, which, had gone through the House of Representatives without amendment. Clause ?■ of' the Bill'authorised the oompilation/of'a'h'st of defaulting' ratepayers and, provided that where & ratepayer, was six months in arrears with his rates he wcmH not he' allowed to vote at an election -or poll- „ ', Some m the councillors thought that ratepayers should not be disfranchised, and others that the disfranchisement should not apply in the case of loam polls. Both points of view were elaborated at great length, the'general impression being that an important principle was at stake. After councillors had debated^ tho question for over an hour, they signified their willingness to como to a decision, and, on a division, the clause was retained by 18 votes to 7. ■ Another amendment, that a period of nino months should elapse before a ratepayer was placed on the defaulters' list, was moro successful. It was agreed to on the voices.