THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, JANUARY 24,' 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1708, 24 January 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, ' 1874.

Although the Government announced during the last session nf Parliament that it was their intention next session to introduce a Bill for altering the present electoral system by substituting manhood suffrage in place of the existing qualifications, it is by no means certain that it will be carried. It is true that the House of Representatives has already by resolution affirmed by a large majority the desirability of such a measure, and probably there will be no difficulty in obtaining as much support to the Bill | itself when submitted, but there is a chance that the Upper House may decline to pass it. There is also a probability that the Government in preparing a Bill for a more liberal franchise for the House of Representatives, will include in it a scheme for altering the constitution of the Upper House, and of course if this is done the chances of carying the measure in a single session will be lessened. In any case there is no probability of such an immediate nature as would justify any remissness on the part of the population in regard to the matter of registration. Register! Register! is just as forcible a cry now as ever, and it behoves everyone who values his rights as a citizen, to place himself upon the electoral roll if he possesses the necessary qualification. Recent events have proved that but a very small proportion of those who are qualified have taken the trouble to enroll themselves in this district and it i 3 to be hoped that this fatal neglect will be remedied this year. As most of our readers are aware, the period during which claims to vote may be made is from the Ist of January to the 31st March in each year, so that there is now a little over two months in which to secure the fullest possible registration of qualified electors. The Committee appointed by the late public meeting have taken steps which should prove successful if only the efforts made by it are backed up by the willingness of the public to assist them by simply making good .use of the opportunity provided. We understand that the Committee have ordered a large quantity of printed registration forms, which will be distributed all over the Grey Valley District, by means of the various .local Hospital Committees and other agencies. If the inhabitants do not choose to avail themselves of their political privileges the fault will be their own. No cost will be incurred by anyone desirous of claiming a vote, all that he has to do is to satisfy himself that he possesses a qualification and to fill up the form claiming to be placed on the electoral roll. There are very few who cannot come within the prescribed conditions for, although there are various descriptions of qualification ; the household suffrage is quite low enough to include anyone who has a roof to cover him. We may briefly state what the qualifications are. First of all, no one can claim the right to be enrolled unless he is of the full age of 21 years. Second, if he desires to register upon a freehold qualification, his freehold must be situate within the district for which the vote is to be given, and must be of the clear value of £50 above all charges and incumbrances, and which he has possessed for at least six months before the last period of registration. If he be a leaseholder merely, his estate must be situate within the district, and of the clear i annual value of ten pounds, the lease of which at the time of registration shall have three years to run, or of which he has been in possession for three years. If he be a householder, all that is required' is that the house, if within a town, shall be of the annual value of £10, or, if .oxitside a town, of the annual value of £5, and that the householder has resided therein six months before the period of registration. Under this last qualification evnry miner or settler who lives in a dwelling worth say two shillings a week rent can put himself upon the roll. The form in which the claim to vote must be made out, printed copies of which will be widely distributed, is easily to be understood, and no informality need be committed if the directions are carefully adhered to. Below we give a copy of the form showing how it ought to be filled up:—

I, John Smith do hereby give you notice, that I claim to have my name inserted in the Lisb of Voters for the Electoral District of Grey Valley ; and I declare that my name, place of residence, and the nature and description of my qualification are stated truly in the columns above. Signature of Claimant, John Smith. . Signed and declargd by the claimant this 23rd day of January, in the year 1874, before me. James Brown, An Elector of the District [or Registration Officer or J.P.] It will bo noticed that it is absolutely necessary that the claim should be signed before either some person who is now on the roll, or by a Justice of the Peace, or the Registration Officer. We hope that the efforts now being made to secure a full representation of the Grey Valley on the roll will result in the addition of many hundred names to the register for this district. ■No one can tell how soon the electors may be called upon to exercise their franchise, and another important reason for the necessity of a full registration, is that upon the number of registered electors will very greatly depend the chance of obtaining an additional member of the Assembly for this district.

'o the Regis Electoral Di iTBATioy Office [strict of Grey Valley. Place Christian Name and Surname of the Claimant at full length. Place of Abode. Nature of Qualification. where property situate & name or descriptionofsame. . ,■■•;:■ John Smith Greymouth. Bousehold. Hospital Bt, 3ection No. 210