Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 100, 4 December 1852, Page 4

The following Address to the Electors has been adopted by the Christchurch Colonists' Society. To the Electors of Canterbury. GESTLEMEiT, BEFORE addressing you on the subject : of the privileges, which you are soon to enjoy, under the provisions of the Act, " to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," which was enacted in the last session of the British Parliament, it is necessary that the Christchurch Colonists' Society should state their reasons for so doing. That Society was formed, about six months ago, for the discussion of all matters of public interest. It now numbers 95 members, including seven justices of the peace, and many other gentlemen of-great respectability and leading station, as well as farmers, stockowners, tradesmen, mechanics, and labourers, dwelling in different parts of the Christchurch District and Canterbury Settlement. During the existence of this Society, several subjects relating to the political condition of the Colonists, as well as to other matters of public interest, have been inquired into and discussed at their meetings. Recently, the subject of this letter has engaged their anxious and continued consideration. The Society, then, has thought it not unbecoming to draw the attention of the Electors generally to"the result of their inquiries: and it would,, indeed, have done so at an earlier period, had it not been thought advisable to wait for the publication of the New Zealand Constitutional Act, before discussing its provisions. In the first place, the Society beg to call the attention of the public generally to the fact, that it is_not yet accurately known, who will be, and who will not be, Electors I for; the Christchurch, or any other district, at the forthcoming elections. The. only electoral roll which has yet been made up in this settlement contains the names of those inhabitants only who chose to register their qualification under the provisions of the local Provincial Councils' Ordinance, which has died a natural death. Although gTeat efforts, including those of this Society, were made to induce all duly qualified persons to register on that occasion, it is wellknown that a large number of the colonists refused to do so, partly from indifference to the measure itself as giving them ho real' control over the management of their' own" affairs and revenue, partly from a belief, which has turned out to be well founded, that the measure would never come into operation. So extensive was the apathy on the subject, that there were only 219 claims registered in the whole Canterbury Settlement, .except Akaroa, viz.: Lyttelton, 69 ; Christchurch Town, 52 ; Christchurch Country, 98; whereas there is' ho doubt but that there must be a much larger number of persons duly qualified to be" electors, in a population numbering upwards of 3000 souls. There will, doubtless, be an opportunity afforded to the colonists of registering their qualifications to be electors according to the new Act; since it would be clearly unjust to confine that privilege to those who registered their claims under the condemned local law, and to exclude from the enjoyment of that privelege those who may have conscientiously Avished to know what they were to vote for before they claimed a vote at all. The Society would strongly urge upon every qualified inhabitant the duty of sending in his claim at the next registration; as the new Act does really confer a considerable control, over the management of local affairs and revenue, on the representatives of the people. The qualification of an elector will be precisely the same under the new Act as under the old Ordinance ; that is to say, he must be 21 years of age, and either— 1. Have.a freehold estate in possession, of the clear value of £50 above all charges and incumbrances, which he has had for at least six months before the registration. 2. Have a leasehold estate in possession of of the clear annual value of £10, on a lease having run three years, or having three years to run, on the day of registration. 3. Be a householder occupying a tenement worth £10 a year if in towns, or £o a year if outside totvns, which he has occupied for six months before the registration. Aliens, or persons who have been convicted of treason, felony, or any infamous offence, unI ess they shall Lave received a free pardon, or