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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 159, 14 April 1874, Page 2

A most stupid blunder has occurred iu the preparation of some of the voting papers that were sent from this district to the Registration Officer, about 50 of them having been attestsd by witnesses not on the roll, or, otherwise, not injaccordance with the requirements of the Act. This is a very serious business, and betokens much carelessness somewhere, and is unsatisfactory as being the result of all the trouble and expense to which Mr. Johnson has subjected himself in the interests of the settlers. We sympathise with our new member, whose devotion to the cause he has in hand is worthy of all admiration ; but for the feelings of those who possibly may be disfranchised by their own act, we have not the slightest regard ; in fact we rather say that it serves them right. If those who wish to have a voice in public affairs will not act for themselves; if they will be contented to let others do for them what they themselves should do ; if they will not listen to the many notes of warning, the many lessons of teaching that they annually receive, then let them take the consequences. For three months in each year the press of the whole colony—and that of Gisborne has not been behind hand—-is alive with information as to the duty on the one hand, and the mode of procedure on the other, with respect to the registration of votes; forms are printed and advertized, and in some instances have been gratuitously furnished ; messengers were paid and despatched to individual settlers, but still the mere effort of properly understanding how to lawfully sign one’s name is too great, and a whole year’s labor is lost. We look upon such acts as the most scathing irony on our loud boastings against others for past neglect, while the district is seeking to have the management of its own local affairs. We believe the signatures to the papers have been verified by Mr. Johnson, and returned to Mr. Hamlin, but we have not the slightest hope that they will be received as correct.