WIDENING THE FRANCHISE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 19, 22 July 1925, Page 9

WIDENING THE FRANCHISE

The Local Government Association proposed to fight to the utmost the Labour Government's proposal to bring in a Bill altering the municipal franohise. The movement, it is felt by those opposed to it, will change the whole basis on which the local government system is built. What is desoribed, lor example, as one of th« absurdities which will result if residence is to be the sole factor in the franchise, is illustrated. At present a person who owns property in a municipality or ■hire; or who has a lease of it which compels him to pay. the ratea, is entitled to a vote. It "is not essential that he should reside within the area of the council. But it is pointed out that if the Parliamentary franchise is adopted owners who live outside the council's area will be disfranchised; and that while he may own a business in the town and spend most of his waking hours at that business, even this would not entitle him to vote as a resident if he goes home to sleep elsewhere. The logic, it is stated, is somewhat extraordinary which can conceive that a person has a rightful interest in the place where his homo is, and yet has no interest whatever in the place where he earns his living and provides employment for others. The contention is that this illogical position will follow if residence is to be the sole factor in the franchise. Tho proposed extension of the franchise is not likely to become law without a big fight, for, as has been pointed out, working men who own their own properties, however small, are just as conservative as any other class when proposals are brought forward which are likely to affect them pecuniarily, and the belief !<*■ rightly at wwmgly, lb»t if wiih a

councils 'an increase in rate* will follow.