In olden days Freemen were the most important city residents. They were burghers—members of Guilds and Crafts. They assisted in local government, and in dispensing justice from the Borough Court, to which they elected magistrates. Gradually the Freemen’s powers decreased, until they were reduced merely to the privilege of taking part in municipal elections. To confer the Freedom of the City nowadays is an honour conveying very little actually. It implies that the recipient is of the same good citizen status as were the old burghers. If the honour is conferred upon a non-resident, he cannot claim civic rights.
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Bibliographic details
Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 33 (Supplement)
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99Untitled Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 33 (Supplement)
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