LOCAL GOVERNMENT FRANCHISE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13660, 31 July 1908, Page 4

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FRANCHISE.

At its meeting iu Wellington yesterday, 'the annual Conference Tol the ' Fiirurtrs' Union passed a resolution in'regard to the local government franchise ' wiicli is considerably less liberal than the, motion passed oil the- same subject last Friday' by the Ximaru Harbour Board. The Farmers' Union is completely hostile to the use of the parliamentary roll for the election of members of local bodies, -and quite rightly, so,' but we are afraid that there is not much chajuse of; the Government) taking up ' the suggestion that, only ratepayers: should be', permitted to vote, although the principle has really been con- .» ceded eyeit in boroughs by the . restriction ■of voting upon loan proposals which ''is , confined to ratepayers. It seems anomalous that while only ratepayers can vote to raise a, loan, yet tihe ihembers who have the expending of the loan are principally elected by those who .'have."no voice in t authorising, it. ' It is too late, however, to think : that a popularly elected assembly like the New Zealand Parliament will ever consent to curtail»the privileges already conferred upon any section of the community, . and the ' I'iinaru Harbour Board was wise to recognise this fact arid to: frame its resolution accordingly. The franchise in boroughs will never be cut] back to the, existing franchise in cdun'ties or, roadi districts, so that the only tiling is to make the latter as liberal aa / the former.