WIDENING THE FRANCHISE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3724, 28 July 1925, Page 29

WIDENING THE FRANCHISE.

T , SYDNEY, July 16. Ihe Local Government Association proposes to fight to the utmost the Labour Government’s proposal to bring in a Bill altering the municipal franchise. The movement, it is felt by those opposed to it, will change the whole basis on which the local gevernmont system is built. What is described, for example, as one of the absurdities which will result if residence is to be the solo factor in the franchise, is illustrated. _At present n person who owns property in a municipality or shire, or who has a lease of it which compels him to pay the rates, is entitled to a vote. It is not essential that he should reside ■within the area of the council. But it is pointed out that if the parliamentary franchise is adopted owners who live outside the council's «rea will be disfranchised, and that while ho may own a business in the town and spend most of his waking hours at that busiriess, even this will not entitle him to vote as a resident if he goes home to sloep elsewhere. The logic, it is stated, is somewhat extraordinary which can conceive that a person has a rightful interest in the place where his home is, and yet has no interest whatever in the place where lie earns his living, and provides employment for others. The contention is that this illogical position will follow if residence is to be the sole factor in the franchise. The proposed extension of the franchise is not likely to beoome law without a big fight, for. as has been pointed out, working men who own their own properties, however small, are just ns conservative as any other class when proposals are brought foiward which nro likely to affect them pecuniarily, and the belief is, rightly or wrongly, that if with a wider franchise Libour dominates the councils an increase in rates will follow.