MUNICIPAL VOTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22564, 31 October 1936, Page 16

MUNICIPAL VOTING

ENACTMENT OF 1842 NON-RATEPAYERS TO PAY £1 A quaint local franchise provision- in Municipal Corporations Ordinances passed by the Legislative Council of NewZealand in 1842 and 1844 was cited by Mr. A. H. Johnstone, K.C-, in the Supreme Court yestorday. The ordinance restricted the voting right in municipal elections to adult male inhabitants of a borough. A further section read: — "And whereas there may bo persons interested in the good government of a borough and qualified to have a voico therein, but who may. not have property rateable under this ordinance, and it is not fitting that 'any man should have (directly or indirectly) any power of taxing the inhabitants of any borough or any share in the management of the funds thereof who shall not himself contribute thereto: Be it enacted that every - person claiming the right of voting as aforesaid shall at the time of preferring such claim pay to the returning officer the sum of 20s, which sum shall be accounted Tor and deducted or returned, as the case may be, from any rate which may afterwards be assessed upon such claimant." "That was passed in more enlightened days,'' remarked Mr. H. E. Barrowclough, who was also appearing as counsel.

"It represents a philosophy from which we have passed," said Mr. Justice Callan. "Those are the views of our ancestors."

Mr. Johnstone: It means that he who taxes others shall himself be taxed — provided he has got anything.