SATURDAY, JULY 23, 1870.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 241, 23 July 1870, Page 3

SATURDAY, JULY 23, 1870.

We have no late news from the Assembly, where so late as Tuesday last the financial policy was still under discussion. A variety of opinions are being thus elicited on subjects relating to finance, past and present; immigration, land, land laws, railways, roads, protective duties, the conduct of the Native war, and almost every other kind of subject. The probability still continues, however, that the Government Bills will pass, giving effect to their plans. The Ballot Bill is in the hands of the Upper House, and, we trust, safe. Judging from our own reading of the Hansard reports, we should not suppose that Manhood Suffrage would'be granted this session, yet we find the following in the Advertiser , which should be better informed than ourselves :—“ There seems every probability that the resolutions will be adopted, and that the extension of the franchise will be an accomplished fact this session. It is high time, indeed, that an end was put to the farce of a five pound household qualification, with all the concomitant nuisances of our Electoral Registration Acts. The voice of the people —no of a bare moiety of them—will then be expressed at the ensuing elections ; and, with vote by ballot, we have no doubt of the result.” A further measure of reform which is required is a reconstruction of the Upper House. We should like to see it composed of gentlemen elected on a high qualification, and representing property.