YOUNG MEN! YOUNG WOMEN ! AGAIN WE SAY, REGISTER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 29, Issue 5, 29 May 1896, Page 18

YOUNG MEN! YOUNG WOMEN ! AGAIN WE SAY, REGISTER.

-♦- There is much activity in the various political camps. Every day sees fresh names handed m to the registration officers. Prohibit ionihts stem particularly busy in this matter. Iho Timpi ranee Party, without doubt, is well organised, and uses cv iy means to increase in numbers and \ olitical influence. Other parties can well take a leat out of their book. They have a fixed goal 1 efore their mind and ceaselessly work onward to success. The reason why they have such power at election time is simply because for months beforehand they have worked energetically and attended to the important matter of registration. Other parties are working indefatigably, and next election will return a heavy poll. Varied issues will be placed before the electors. If Catholic voters, true to the old cause, stand together with real solidarity, they must achieve good results. Ihe splendid victory of tho Catholic Belgian*, opp'essed educationally for many \ears, should stimulate us to continued uniform action. Unfortunately, many of our people are careless, not, we think in the matter of voting, but in the matter of registration. Unfortunately it too oftt-n happens when the time of action arrives, those who should be leady to strike a blow for justic are unarmed, and, therefore, jowerless. We hear it said that Catholics sometimes Bell the pass and turn traitors to the sacred causa of religious educition. There have been deserters irom the beginning, and will be t > the end of the chapter. The Americuns luvo a t< rui which th&y a^ ply to political turncoats : they style a renegade Voter a "mugwump." We are not apprehensive that many educational " mugwumps "

will be found among New Zealand Catholics ; we do fear that our young men and young women, just of age, will through procrastination find themselves without a vote on the day when votes will be of much value. In many electorates Catholics will have the predominating influence ; in others they will be able to harrass the enemy. There ia no mincing matters : we must keep up the fight. Cur oppomrts show no consideration for our feelings. Kvery opportunity of minimising the influence of Catholic schools is eagerly embraced. Do they expect us to fight them with gloved hands? Not at all. Increase the efficiency of Catholic schools and increase the vigour of agitation for jnstice is the only safe policy. As time goes on, Catholics naturally increase in numbers, and friends of other denominations recognise our claims and range themselves on our side. Our agitation should, therefore, become intensified. It is necessary, however, for all adults to get themselves on the list of voters. Now is the hour of enrolment. Those who did not vote at last election must be enrolled again — their names were struck off the lists. if every Catholic man at present on the roll had true z^al in the cause, he would see to it that all the Catholics in his immediate neighbourhood were likewise registered. There is no time to be lost.