The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBUARY 22, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 44, 22 February 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBUARY 22, 1867.

"The Registration of Electors Act, 1866," i is of interest to the whole community and we propose to notice some of its most important clauses. It repeals the Acts of 1858 and 1861, not interfering with the electoral rolls in existence previous to its passing, until new rolls shall have been completed. Clause 3 empowers the Governor to appoint registration officers. Clause 4 instructs the registration officers to make up a list of voters annually ; and clause 5 requires all persons desirous of having their names placed upon the electoral roll, to make a claim in the form numbered schedule 1 of the Act. Clause 6 provides that such claim shall be signed and its truth declared before a Justice of the Peace or the registration officer, who shall attest the same without fee. A penalty not exceeding £20 to be paid for making a false declaration. If a person has more qualifications than one stated on tbe roll, they must be numbered. Clause 7 states no such claim and declaration shall be received unless it be given to the registration officer of the electoral district, in respect of wliich such claim shall be made, iv the months of January, February, aud March in the year in which it is preferred. Clause 8 requires the registration officer to make out an alphabetical list, in the month of April, of all those persons who shall during the proceeding three months have preferred claims, with the name of the person who attested the signature, the list to be posted in a conspicuous place in the district. The electoral roll and list of claimants constitutes the list of voters for revision ; and objections may be made by auy person whose name appears on the list of voters for revision, to the right of any other person to have his name retained on the roll ; the objection to be given to the registration officer, in the month of April, by a written or printed notice, in the form supplied by schedule number 2 of the Act. By clause 11 a person can have his name removed from the roll by giving written notice to that effect in the month of April, to the registration officer, the form to be sigued in the presence of and attested by a Justice of the Peace, iv the form provide^ by schedule 3of the Act. Clause 12 specifies that the registration officer shall •within the first seven days of the month of May, make out an aphabetical list of all persons objected to, and insert the names of all disqualified persons in the list of objections, which must be published in a conspicuous place, and in one or more newspapers circulating in the district. A list must be published of the persons omitted at their own requests. A penalty is imposed for destroying or defacing the notice lists ; and the lists are not to be invalidated by imperfect publication. If no list of voters shall have been made out, posted or published, the roll then in force is to be used for the purposes of revision for the year then next ensuing.

Clause 18 relates to the appointment of revising officers by the Judges "of the Supreme Court, in the month of March of every year. Revising officers are sworn to act faithfully, and are required to notify their appointment to the registration officer, who shall, on the 10th May, transmit a list of voters for revision, together with an authentic copy of the lists to be published in pursuance with the 13th and 14th sections, and all the original claims, declarations, and notices of objections which such registration officer shall have received. Clause 21 requires the revising officer to hold an open court between the 15th May and the Ist July in every year, and to give 15 days notice in one or more newspapers of the time and place of holding the court. No court shall be held at any place which will

render it necessary for any claimant objected to, desirous of attending the same, to travel more than nine miles beyond the boundaries of the electoral district iv respect of which such court is held. Clauses 22, 23, and 24 relate to tbe insertion of omitted names, and the mode in which corrections are to be made in the list of voters. Clause 25 prescribes the duty of the revising officer in cases of objection ; and clause 26 states that no person who shall have been objected to, shall be compelled to appear in person to make proof of the nature and sufficiency of the qualification, unless summoned to attend by the revising officer. By clause 27, change of abode does not disqualify, provided the householder or some oue on his behalf shall prove that he possessed a household qualification on the last day of April next proceeding, and shall supply the true place of his abode and the particulars of his qualification. Revising officers may summon witnesses, inflict penalties for non-attendance, administer oaths, but they must uot adjourn the court after the last day of June in any year.

Clause 31 provides that the validity of all claims shall be determined in open court, and by clause 32 the revising officer is required to transmit to the returning officer, before the 15th July in each year, the list of voters, which are to be written or printed in alphabetical order. If the alterations are not numerous they may be made in the roll of the previous year. The returning officers are to examine the copies and sign a sufficient number for persons to take the poll at all the polling places. The returning officer must keep a signed copy of the electoral roll for his own use, which is to be the roll from the last day of August to the first clay of September in the succeeding year. Copies are to be kept for sale, and the original lists and copies are to be sent to the Colonial Secretary. The remaining clauses of the Act relate to appeals, costs, penalties, and salaries, Avhich are not of great public importance. The importance of attending to the duty of registration need scarcely be enforced. An eminent authority once said the battle of the constitution must be fought in the registration courts. In consequence of this statement, his party adopted it as a watchword, with what results is well known to every one acquainted with Euglish political history. The people of Otngo are all alive to the work of registration. Under the roll of electors for the province, under which the new Superintendent and Council will have to be elected, there are 7277 names. This is nearly double the number that was on the roll when Mr. Dick was elected Superintendent, after a contest with Mr. M'Glashan, in August, 1865, the total then being 3901. That was again all but double the number on the roll as it existed when Mr. Harris defeated Major Richardson in April, 1863, for there then were but 1896 registered names, so says the Otago Daily Times. A time is coming in the history of New Zealand, when every man who neglects to qualify for the vote that the constitution has provided for him, will deeply regret his apathy or want of principle. The battle of the constitution in New Zealand, as in England, must be fought in the registration courts, and the advice given by Sir R. Peel to his disponding followers, thirty years ago, is equally applicable here. Register !