The Poverly Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1071, 14 April 1880, Page 2

The Poverly Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter.

'published every evenihcT "WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1880.

The new Act now in force, entitled "The Qualification of Electors Act," was intended, as we all know, to be in the direction of extending the franchise ; but so far as we see at present, it will practically shut out many hundreds of names which were under the old Act entitled to record their votes. Hitherto every leaseholder has been entitled to have his name placed on the Electoral Roll by virtue of his being a leaseholder, but under the new Act the leasing qualification is withdrawn, and a person can only claim the privilege by being a freeholder or claiming as a resident. 6o then that very many residents of Gisborne, and throughout Poverty Bay will require to renew his registration. "With regard to the leasehold qualification, Mr. Hurst, who is member for City West, lately, when addressing his constituents, cited his own particular case. He had, he said, a 21 years' lease of premises at an annual rental of .£SOO, but although he passed the greater portion of his time in Auckland, he was not permitted to exercise the franchise there. - Another of the representatives also draws attention to the subject in a letter addressed to a Southern contemporary, in which he says : — " As the new electoral rolls are now being prepared, and come into force on May Ist, it is absolutely necessary that all qualified persons should make Immediate application if they wish their names to appear upon the roll. Upon the coming into force of the new rolls, all previously existing electoral Acts are repealed, The only qualifications under the new Act affecting this district is as follows, viz,, — Every man of the age of 21 years, having resided 12 months in the Colony, and 6 months in the electoral district for which he claims to vote. Every man of the age of 21 years or upwards, being the owner of a freehold of the value of £25 or upwards. Aliens are not qualified. It is necessary, thei'efore, that all those who have previously voted as leaseholders, householders, or the holders of miners' rights, should make application to be registered either as freeholders or residents." It follows then that the Poverty Bay residents'must alter their qualifications — that is those who have previously been enrolled under the head of (t leaseholders." We believe we are right in our interpretation of the Act. However, as persons entitled to be placed on the register can do so at any time, no great harm can arise if residents in Poverty Bay will fill up the necessary form which can be obtained from Mr. Greenwood, the Clerk of the Court, and forward the same on to the Deputy Registrar at Tauranga, being careful to pay postage.