The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1880. THE BLOCK VOTE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 361, 19 March 1880, Page 13

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1880. THE BLOCK VOTE.

tXAMPLE is more powerful than precept, is an old and very true saying. From time to time we have discussed the block vote, and argued that, rightly and prudently used, it cannot but be the most powerful means -within the reach of an oppressed minority to bring a tyrannical and irrational majority to a sense of justice. But now a great fact comes to justify and confirm our position on this question. The late general election in Victoria establishes beyond the possibility of a doubt the soundness of our political prevision. Friends and foes alike admit that it was the Catholic block vote which turned Berry and his party out of office, and put Service and the Conservatives into power. Berry and his party, who owed their success in IS 1 4 to Catholic support, proved during their tenure of office ungrateful and unjust to Catholics; and they are now reaping the reward. True, Service and his party do not promise to be more just than were their predecessors ; but the vote that turned out Berry can in a short time also chastise Service. Meantime a sense of self-interest may effect that which a sense of justice and fair play would not attempt. Already politicians are asking themselves—" What is to be done with the Catholic vote ?" This is the question asked by the Melbourne Age, the organ of the Liberal party in Victoria ; and the same paper, in its issue of March 2, says :—": — " The Conservatives have climbed into power on the back of the Catholic vote. For that the vote was given to them in a lump (another term for hlock vote), they will not pretend to deny, after the fate that has overtaken Sir Bryan O'Loghlen, Messrs. Casey, O'Hea, and others." And the Herald, the organ of the Conservatives, refers in the following terms to the Catholic vote :—": — " To this vote may be ascribed the defeat of Sir Bryax O'Loghlen, Messrs. L. L. Smith, Dixon, Munro, D. Cameron, Deakin, O'Hea, and others. There can be no doubt that so long as a very large proportion of electors remain in such a state of discontent with the present Education Act as to form a political organisation, the Catholic vote will continue to be a factor in the return of members which cannot safely be despised. It is well known that in many constituencies a solid vote of the character mentioned has been given, on grounds widely different from the issue submitted to the country."

Nothing more need lie said to prove the power of the block vote. In its favour wo have abstract arguments and the still more easily understood argument of fact. Even here m New Zealand, though we are not relatively so numerous as Catholics are in Victoria, the block vote has not been without its effect. In more instances than one it has signally punished an enemy to justice to Catholics. It now only remains for Catholics in this country to prepare themselves for the next general election, which must take place in at least two years. F or this purpose it is necessary all should take care to have their names placed on the electoral roll. Every man who has resided one year in the colony and six months in on e electoral district can become a voter if he will on] J talcc t])e trouble to call on the registrar of his district and demand to have his name placed on the electoral roll. Hie only labour he will be put to will be the labour of filling up a very si m pi c f orm o f application. Let all Catholics do this and wh en the time of the general election arrives they will be m a position to exercise considerable influence in the selection of members.