REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS.

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7062, 13 July 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS.

(From ' Ths Colonist,' July 10.) The qualifications of electors being? defined, next oome the conditions of registration. As was pointed out bofore, whatever the number of qualifications an elector may possess, he must decide which he chooses to select at the time of registration, and confine himself to that alone. la the case of ;a contest, the bolder of a multitude ot freeholds may easily find himself em" fearraseed. He knows how greatly party, interests could be served l by being free to ahd^se, but then comes in the dread of wrong. O( course this is tba natural result of the " on® man 1 , one vote," and it would

be &n act/ of folly for those who assented to that to refuse the other concession. When a residential elsetor has renroved to another district, and has resided therein for one month, he may have Ms name 1 transferred on giving notice in? writing to the Begistrar. A person who desires to be registered as a non-residential', haviagr of course the necessary qualification, may have bis name transferred by the Registrar. Ib like manner, if he has both clashes' of qualification in the same districts and wishes to be registered as a freeholder; the Registrar will make the change for him on being satisfied that Se has a lawful claim. Absence of, a residential elector from Jiis district is not to forfeit fcis right, UDless he is registered fot any qaalificatioa iv any other district, but he is not to be entitled' to "vote unless at some time within the six montbs-im-mediately previous to the election he has been an actual and home fide resident cot less than six days, either separately or continuously, surely a sufficiently liberal interpretation of residence.. When b daim is made, it mup t be in presence- of a Registrar, a-Deputy-Registrar, a Justice of the Peace, a Postmaster^ or an elector of the district. Full particulars as to the situations of the property, or locality of residence must be given. The claim must be signed with the applicant's own hand,, and if he cannoi write, his mark must be attested by a Justice of the Peace.. A long strive of clauses then follow, that are heavily charged with pains and penalties, highly necessary,, yet of no peculiar interest, except to those who coutemplate violating the law. No Revision Court is to sit alter the issue if the writ, but a special Court is to eit to hear new claims received within the fifteen days immediately prior to \he i3BU3 of the writ. An interesting and novel feature is the disqualification of those neglecting to exercise the right of voting. As for any solid effect f Homing for the reform, of negligent knman kind, that is too much to expect. Much more likely the remark •vill be, " Well rid cf that nuisance." Luckily, no particular barm is done, no good is accomplished. The provisions for adding to the roll from time to time ara all that could be desired. A3 to the complete new roll, what more can be expected, than a shilling where the number of names does not exceed one thousand, ana one shilling and sixpence above one thousand. Whether all the Premier proposes may be forthwith adopted, oannot be foretold. At all events, the attempt is in the right direction.