The Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 18S8.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 134, 16 October 1868, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 18S8.

There appears to be a general movemeat in favour of a change in the market day ; and, judging from the tone of public feeling on the matter, it is probable that the change will be made. Though we are decidedly favourable to thia movemeut, we must be permitted to remind the promoters that the convenience of the country districts haa to be consulted quite as much aa the convenience of tlioso who live in the city. Thia being the case, we trust that no step will be taken which would have the effect of preventing farmers from joining in a movement in itself ao laudable. Closely connected with, and indeed dependent upon, the change in the market day, is the desire for a halfholiday ou Saturday. We are glad to notice that several of the leading employers have announced their intention of closing at such an hour aa will give theii- employes the benefit of a little healthful relaxation, and we trust that their example will be followed till the practice is uuiversal and well-estab-lished.

Tiik Legislative Council has thought! fib to throw out the Ballot Bill passed by tho House of liepresentattves. We are yet without information as to their reasons for doing so, and it would, therefore, be unfair to criticise too severely the course wliich they have pursued. At the same time, it is obvious that they have chosen to exercise thtir rights in a manner which can hardly fail to bring their pretensions before the public in an unfavourable light. We are uot vow disputing the right of the Upper House to reject llils Bill, for that is beyoud dispute ; but we do question the expediency of throwing out a measure which in no "way affected, them, or affected them only iv an indirect manner. Had the Ballot Bill passed the House of Representatives by a bare majority ; had it. been hurriedly carried through all its stages ; or had a large proportion of the members left ■when ifc was read a third time, we could have understood, and perhaps agreed in, tbe action of the Legislative Council. But there was nothing of this sort. The Bill was brought in at au early period ol the session ; it was carefully. considered as it proceeded; anil ifc was passed by a respectable •mn jority. Now, looking at ail these facts, we are entitled to ask what on earth could induce the Legislative Council to act as they have done? Did they reject the Bill simply to shorttheir power ? This can hardly be, aud

we must wait the arrival of Hansard for a full explanation. "We are not inclined to regard the Ballot as au unmixed good which it is very desirable to possess. But, if a majority of the people are agreed in ita favour, we see no reason why they should be denied the possession of that which they regard as a privilege, still loss do v/o admit the expediency of the Upper House interposing, its power of rejection against the declared will of those who are mainly interested in the matter. A recent writer on the subject of tho ballot says that the expression " Vote by Ballot," is used to imply two distinct ideas — voting by a written document and not orally, and secret voting. The former he considers a mere question of convenient arrangement ; the latter involves a political principle. Written voting is a useful contrivance for taking votes, aud conduces, especially in times of excitement, to the preservation of peace and good order in the polling. But it by no means implies secrecy as to the mode in which the vote is given. The secrecy of the ballot consists not so much in the temporary as in the permanent concealment of the vote from all but tha presiding officials ; and any disclosures by these, of their knowledge, is punished aa a misdemeanour. This arrangement, as it appears to us, fails to accomplish any useful end, whilo it abandons a fundamental guarantee of political action. Secret voting implies a state of societv where iuti [nidation, or some other form of undue influence, is habitually predominant. To such a condition it can be, even at the best, only a palliative. The true remedy for the disease lies much deeper, aud the causes which have produced the unhealthy tendency must,, if we desire a permanent cure, be removed. The concealment implied by the ballot seems to imply also an inability, at all times, openly to express honest convictions.