QUALITY OF CITIZENSHIP

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1928, Page 11

QUALITY OF CITIZENSHIP

LOCAL BODY GOVERNMENT BASIS OF FRANCHISE DISCUSSED.'PRESENT SYSTEM FAVOURED. By Telo£."»ph.— Pi«js Association. Nelson, March 15. The Mayor of Christchurch (the Rev. J. K. Archer) moved at the Municipal Association conference this morning: “That this conference is of opinion that th© time has now come when the qualification for all local bodies’ elections should be the Parliamentary franchise.” Mr. Archer said that it was time that in a democratic country like New Zealand citizenship, and not the possession of money or property, should be the qualification for taking part in all forms of Government. It would unify and simplify matters if the Parliamentary roll was used for every purpose. The town clerk of Dunedin pointed out that Mr. Archer was not saying what he meant. If th© Parliamentary franchise was to be the qualification, then a man owning property in two towns would be deprived of on© vote. Mr. Sullivan said that th© previous speaker’s speech was a very clever one, but would suggest that any man paying rent should not have a vote. Mr. Archer meant that all those people who had their names on the Parliamentary roll should exercise every vote that they were entitled to at present. The opinion was expressed by another delegate that the Mayor of Christchurch was putting forward a doctrine which would not bear practical examination. No one could argue that all men were equal in the quality of citizenship. For municipal government a very high grade of citizenship was required, and a man who lived in a place and made his home there was a much higher grad© citizen than a merely transient visitor.

Mr. Archer, said that he never expected an assembly of this kind to pass his resolution. He could remember the time not very ‘long ago when he was the only man of democratic instincts who cam© there. From the arguments about equality made by a man at the 'back he wondered where he had been brought up to develop such silly ideas. (Cries of “Order! Order!”)

Th© delegate referred to challenged Mr. Archer to meet him on the public platform if he had any doubt about the growth of the speaker’s mind. Mr. Archer said that he would be pleased to accept the challenge. Mr. Archer’s motion was thrown out.