WAIPAWA MAIL FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1884.

Waipawa Mail, Volume VI, Issue 665, 27 June 1884, Page 2

WAIPAWA MAIL

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1884.

“Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely aocording to conscience, above all other liberties." — Milton.

A recent visit to the Home country, extending over two years, raised in our minds no little surpriso at the backwardness of Liberalism, and the slowness of progress there in political feeling and action, and at the same time a feeling of thankfulness and gratitude for the enlightened policy which has guided politicians and Governments of all shades of party in this favoured country of New Zealand, in some matters especially. Wo were enabled to contrast the franchises in vogue thoroughly, and we believe, impartially. Our experience may be of use to our readers, as showing how variously these questions are regarded. Finding, for private and personal reasons, that we should have to remain for an indefinite period, we took up our abode in a small manufacturing town in a well-known county, and believing it to be our duty to avail ourselves of all political rights and privileges at our disposal, wo sought to bo enrolled as a voter ; but here at once wo were stopped on the threshold. First, we had to wait till we had been in possession of certain property for a year ; then for a particular month in which to lodge a claim ; then another three months for a Revision Court. Prior to this event wo were served with a notice of objection by the legal representative of the Tory party, who assigned no reason. We may say here that the Liberal agent told us at a later period that he also would have lodged an objection, but he suspected that we belonged to his line of thinking. On the appointed day we attended the Court, armed with certain deeds, proving that we possessed a sufficient freehold qualification, which being indefeasible, we won our claim and established our right. But for this, wo should not have had a right, because we lived in a County, and not in a Borough. If in the latter, and having paid any rates for a year specific property, we should be entitled, but living in a County the caso was altogether different, for it was necessary

that the house we lived in should be of considerable value. In brief, as the reador will see, Representation in England is really one of property and not of opinions. The foregoing will show the object of the Franchise Bill now under the consideration of the English Parliament, by which it is sought to give the same privileges in the Counties as possessed by the Boroughs, and to give the same franchise in Scotland and Ireland. The effect of these hindrances to the acquisition of electoral rights is very naturally to keep numerous persons off the Register, who are quite able to form intelligent opinions, and have an equitable right to express them at the polling booth. Were it not our purpose to teach briefly and in simple language that all may understand, we might easily point out many absurdities still in vogue in England, such as “ faggot votes ” and the numerous kinds of franchises, including the corrupt institution of “ freemen,” but to these we can refer in future lessons.

Let us turn now to the New Zealand system whereby a man, whenever he has resided in the colony a year, and in a district six months, may go to an officer appointed for the purpose, and have his name placed in an interim list of similar names. If in fifteen days no valid reason be shown to the contrary, his name passes upon the Register as a matter of course. It is noteworthy also that the onus of proof of disqualification rests with the objector. Thus practically every adult male in the colony, being a resident, is enabled to express his opinions on political questions, and to elect the man of his choice, if his views are those of the majority. There is, however, a period during which names may not be placed on the Register, and such an occasion is close upon us now. During a dissolution, the books are closed until the new elections are over, so that those who have not claimed now, are not likely to have a chance for the next three years of recording a vote. There are however some improvements still required in our Electoral system. Greater facilities are required for registration. As for example, there is only one Registrar for the Provincial District of Hawke’s Bay, to whom all claims have to bo sent, and whom it is not easy to get at. We see no valid reason why all Postmasters should not be Registrars, as they are already employed in Government service, and the additional duties would not be considerable. Then we wish to see a practice abolished and rendered impossible, which is very nearly akin to the English faggot votes, but better known here as the “ travelling contiugent.” One step in this direction was made in 1881, by a Conservative Government under pressure, in providing that all elections for the Assembly should take place on the same day ; but the sooner this is further amended the better, for it is still possible for men to go round and vote in a number of districts. In the last general election but one three steamers were laid on by a candidate for Wairau to bring his friends from Wellington, Nelson, and Sounds. Fifty-five “ foreigners” were thus imported, who had recorded their votos in the districts where they resided, and they voted again at Wairau. As the Conservative candidate had a majority of 20 only, it follows that the opinions of tho resident electors were swamped, and the member was chosen by the outsiders. Such a trick can no longer bo so easily done in the case of tho Wairau, but there are still many electorates, like our own, so contiguous and connected by rail, that double voting may yet be practised. What we want to see is a party bold enough to carry a measure in Parliament giving “ one man one vote,” so securing a true and faithful rejfrcsentation oj‘ opinions instead of Property, which is already fully represented in the Upper House.