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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 952, 17 November 1879, Page 2

We suppose that not one m twenty of our readers really understands what is strictly meant by the Qualification of Electors Bill which passed the Committee m the Assembly a few nights back. Here then for the information of readers : — ln sub-section 1, of clause 2, the freehold qualification is extended to every person of the age of twenty-one or -upwards, which of course includes females. In sub-section 2, after every " man " m the first line, words " of the age of twenty-one years or upwards" are inserted, which gives the residential qualification to adults who have resided six months m the district m which they claim to vote. Clause 4of the original bill, which excludes Maoris from being registered under the Act, is excised, and a new clause inserted which entitles every Maori to be registered as elector who is enrolled m the ratepayers roll or seized of a freehold estate of the value of £25. After sub-section 5, which disqualifies aliens and persons convicted of any treason, felony, or infamous offence, unless he shall have received free pardon, tho following words are added : "or shall have undergone the sentence or punishment to which he shall have been adjudged for such offence," and the following proviso added : "Provided always that every person who m future may be convicted of any of beforementioned offences shall, unless he has received a free pardon, have his name erased from every electoral roll of the colony, and shall not be entitled to have such name placed on any electoral roll within twelve months after he has undergone sentence or punishment to which he shall be adjudged for ench offence." Two new clauses are added after clause 6. Tht>se define the word *' Maori" to mean an aboriginal native inhabitant of New Zealand, and includes any half-caste living as a member of a native tribe according to their customs and usages and any descendant of such half-caste by a Maori woman. Clause 7 provides that nothing m the Act shall affect any right or privilege conferred upon or granted to any Maori under the Representation Act 1867 or any Act amending or continuing the same. The essential alterations, therefore, are these : — First, that the franchise (and with it of course the right to hold a seat m the legislature) is conferred upon women who own a freehold of £25 value. And second, that members, m order to avoid the increase of Maoris m the House, have restored the dual vote over which there has been so much contention, and which led to the rejection of the Electoral Bill last session. This Bill has, however, to go before the Legislative Council, fx % om whence it may be returned with some important alterations recommended before it is allowed to become the law of the land.