The Waipawa Mail Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Saturday, April 18,1908. THE BOROUGH ELECTIONS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5248, 18 April 1908, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail Published Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Saturday, April 18,1908. THE BOROUGH ELECTIONS.

There are signs that the first borough election in Waipawa will provoke some interest and it is confidently predicted in many quarters that keen contests will ensue. This is as it should be. It is a good sign when ratepayers evince a keen interest in local politics and desire to see that the expenditure of their rates is entrusted to energetio men, who have proved their ability to conduct both private and public affairs. The borough will benefit when the most capable of its members realise that it is not only a privilege but a duty to devote a portion of their time to civic business. As the borough progresses and prospers, all within its boundaries share in the improvement made. But, if the conduct of the borough is placed in incapablo or inefficient hands, no advancement will be manifested, no progress made, and we shall be merely marking time. The Town Board has done good service in the past but its powers were limited. With the advent of a borough much remains to be done for the public gpod. Sewerage and lighting are questions that must be grappled with in the near future and we want men, who without unduly taxing the ratepayers, will not be content with the old order of things. If we wish to progress and have conveniences that are acknowledged to bo a necessity in a well regulated community, wo must bo prepared to pay for them.

It may interest many to know that every male or female of the full ago of twenty-one years, who possesses any of the following qualifications is entitled to vote:—

(a.) A freehold qualification, meaning thereby that he ia the beneficial and duly registered owner of a freehold estate in land of the capital value of not less than twenty-five pounds in the ward or undivided borough to which the list relates, whether subject to encumbrances or not, and notwithstanding that any other person is the occupier thereof or of any part thereof under any tenancy ;

(6.) A rating qualification, meaning thereby that he is the person whose name appears for the time being in the “Occupiers” column in the rate-book in respect of any rateable property in the ward or undivided borough to which the list relates; or

('-'•) Aresidentiaiqualification, meaning thereby that he is, and for at least three months then last past has been, in occupation as tenant or sub-tenant, or as one of several tenants or sub-tenants holding in joint tenancy or tenancy in common, of the whole or any portion of any house, warehouse," office, shop, or other building in the ward or undivided borough to which the list relates, under a tenancy the rent under which is at the rate of not lees than ton

pounds per year for the tenant or sub-tenant (or, as the case may be, for each of the several tenants or sub-tenants): Provided that where any tenant or tenants, or sub tenant or sub-tenants, shall sublet the whole or any portion of his or their premises, tho rent payable by him or them shall, for the purpose of this subsection, be deemed reduced by the rent payable to him or them by his or their sub-tenant or sub-tenants. (2.) In the case of husband and wife, any qualification possessed by either of them shall be deemed to be possessed by each of them.