THE BALLOT.

Otago Witness, Issue 905, 3 April 1869, Page 7

THE BALLOT.

(London Beeieio.)

If any argument were wanting to demonstrate the absolute necessity which exists for the introduction of the ballot, it would be found in the shameful and lamentable disturbances and loss of life which have occurred at several of the country elections. That we have prosecuted and accomplished a successful war with less bloodshed than has just disgraced a political event which ought to be of the most peaceful and harmless kind, is surely a startling circumstance ; and it is one which should weigh with those who pursue abstract notions of fitness at the expense of obvious considerations of expediency. If we were all angels, secret voting would be a blunder. If society were entirely composed of doctrinaire philosophers, the ballot would not only be unnecessary, but its introduction might be deprecated on many grounds. But that men and women should be slain, a national function disgraced, and the political rights of subjects interfered with because of certain transcendental theories which are opposed to an obvious and pressing reform, is precisely one of those amazing and illogical anachronisms for whose existence it is impossible to account. As we predicted some weeks ago, the sacred duty of public voting has wrought its ordinary results. Riots and confusion have reigned in those districts where local party feeling runs high ; and public voting, having drawn its victims into the streets, has precipitated those recurrent conflicts which contribute their quota of murdered men to each successive election. At Newport the military had to cliarge upon the populace, wounding several persons, and killing a woman who was endeavouring to rescue her son. The son has since also died. At Tipton the Liberal voters were stoned by the mob, and a surgeon was severely cut in the head. A special constable who interfered was left for dead in the streets, and his brother was dragged out and beaten with pick-handles. At Sligo, on Thursday morning, a mob attacked Captain King in the streets and shot him dead. Three other gentlemen "were badly beaten. " An election-fight tookplaceatßlackburn (but this was not during the polling) aud a man was killed there. Bolton, Wakefield, Southampton, Limerick, and Gal way, have all been the scenes of shameful riots. At Bristol, property to the extent of from L 12.000 to L 15,000 was destroyed, and thirty or forty people injured. To say that " the moat disgraceful soenes ever witnessed

in Belfast" have just ocourred there ia surely saying a great deal, and yet that is the announcement we find in the papers. " A riot ensued ; the mayor and several magistrates were badly uaed, Mr Rae being severely wounded, and dragged out twice by the police. The Court-house was smashed," &o. In Cork similar scenes have occurred; several persons having been wounded. Before the elections are over the list will have to be indefinitely extended ; and it is impossible to say what further exhibitions of recklesa violence may not testify to the security with which Englishmen still enjoy their right of public voting aud public fighting.

As a matter of practical expediency, the use of the ballot in protecting the voter ought to be neither a Liberal nor a Conservetive project. When there is a mob mt&e streets of a town, armed with brickbats and pick-handles, a Conservative is quite as likely to stay at home as a Liberal. The Conservative skull, despite certain theories of which we have heard, is as liable to be opened with a stone as a Radical skull ; and it ia highly improbable that any depth of conviction, which would prompt a man to risk his personal safety in order to record his vote, exists more on the one political side than on the other. The use of the ballot is one of those general requirements which ought to commend itself to all parties. It is like the cleansing of rivers, the punishment of bribery, the utilisation of sewage — a good which the country demands both from the Ministry and from the Opposition, whatever may be the principles of the existing Government. Doubtless there will be efforts made by both sides to show that the election disturbances were caused entirely by their opponents. The Liberals will say they were Tory mobs -which shot this man and beat the other ; the Tories will say that they were Liberal mobs which tore do wn this house or broke the Town-hall windows. The introduction of the ballot, if it did not wholly remove the possibility of street-conflict, would at least give the voter personal security. The majority of the electors in England are not political enthusiasts. With a large number, the merest passing whim will decide whether they take the trouble to go to the poll or not. A remarkably small minority would go to the poll under any circumstances ; but their lukewarm brethren have no such firm political convictions, and no such admirable notions of duty. Upon this large mass o£ electors, is not the knowledge that the elections in their borough or county are sure to be attended by disturbances of a more or less serious kind, and the further knowledge that a brickbat may incapacitate them fr.*m further work during the week, likely to act as a deterrent ? Why should they so imperil themselves ? They have no such interest in either of the candidates, <>r in either of the parties represented by the candidates, as would induce them to risk incurring a broken Lead in order to record their vote. On the days of nomination aud of poiu'ng, such people give a wide berth to the district in which the electioneering excitement is likely to be raging. They may love the Queen, reverence the Church, and respect the State, and they may have a dim notion that this or that party is the one which ought to govern the country, bat the immediate consideration which overcomes all others ia the force of a rotten eg^ regarded as a political argjment. Th-it even such white-livered upholders of Chinch and State should be frightened away from the enjoyment of their political rights is surely a disgrace to the common sense and civilisation of our time ; although it cannot couut, as a stain upon our political system, with the deeds of bloodshed and violence which acquire a ghastly prominence at each of our general elections.

Considerable attention has of late been directed in Auckland to the coal from the Kawakawa mines, Bay of Islands. From experiments which have been made with this coal, it appears that it is fully equal to Australian coal, both for domestic and marine purposes, while it can be supplied in almost aDyquantity and atalow price. The excellent quality of the coal being thus proved, further experiments were made to ascertain the value of the coke made from it. The result of these experiments was, that the coke was found to be far superior to the Australian article, and fully equal to that imported from England, its price at the same time being considerably lower. This discovery the Auckland papers expect will give an impetus to the trade and manufactures of that city. In view of the fact that the small-pox Is slowly, but surely, spreading in Melbourne, and that there is a possibility of the infection being conveyed to this Colony, it will be well for parents to attend to the requirements of the following sections of the Vaccination Act : — The parent of every unvaccinated child born in New Zealand after the first day of March, 1869, aht.ll, within six calendar months after the birth of such child, take, or cause to be taken, the said child to a medical practitioner, or to the medical officer appointed for the town within which the said child is resident, for the purpose of being vaccinated ; and the said medical officer so appointed shall thereupon, or as soon after as it may properly bo done, vaccinate the said child. Upon the eighth day following the day on which any child ha 3 been vaccinated, as aforesdd. the parent of the child shall again take, or cause to be taken, the said child to the medical officer by whom the operation was performed, in order that such medical practitioner or medical officer may ascertain by inspection the result of suoh operation,