Mr. FRANCIS-The voters may go away immediately after voting, and I ask that my motion may be put to the meeting now.
The motion was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN (pointing to the ballot boxes)-These are the ballot boxes to be used; if anybody likes to try them to see that there is nothing inside he can do so (laughter).
Mr. FRANCIS-May I venture to suggest that, to be strictly regular, the scrutineers should now examine the ballot boxes.
The CHAIRMAN-Certainly.
The boxes were then examined, and the voting proceeded. The result was as follows:--
Mr. F. D. SASSOON. Mr. E. R. BELILIOS
Mr. A. P. MacEWEN
20
17
16
The CHAIRMAN-Mr. F. D. Sassoon is therefore by a majority nominated a member of the Legislative Council-(Applause).
Mr. SASSOON-Gentlemen, I beg to thank you for the honour you have conferred upon me. It will be my constant endeavour to further and protect the interests of the colony. I beg to propose that this meeting authorise the Chairman to convey the thanks of the Justices of the Peace to H. E. the Governor, Sir George Bowen, for having made the Legislative Council of this colony a more representative body than it has ever been before.
Mr. F. H. ARJUNER BOS seconded. Carried unanimously.
Mr. FRANCIS-Mr. Chairman, I think before this meeting separates it would not be inappropriate for the meeting to express its regret that the Justices of the Peace who are also Government officials, but on whom the franchise is conferred by Her Majesty equally with the unofficial members of the bench of Justices, should for any reason have declined to take part in this election.
Hon. F. B. JOHNSON-Mr. Chairman, I beg to second that motion, not because I have made up my mind as to whether it is or is not for the interest of this community so large and prominent a body of residents as the Justices of the Peace who are also officials should be disfranchised, but because I think the question whether they are allowed to vote or not should be decided by an order of Government in accordance with constitutional practice and not by a private understanding with the Governor, as has been the case with regard to this election. It appears to me that if a large body of electors are to be disfranchised by a private understanding with the Governor on this occasion, on the next occasion a private understanding with the Governor may lead them all to vote, and it will be very undesirable for this community to be in a state of uncertainty as to who are to take part in the election. (Hear, hear, and applause).
Hon. P. RYRIE-Mr. Chairman, I am very sorry that such a motion should have been brought forward on this occasion. I think the understanding come to that the official Justices should abstain from voting was a very proper one, for many reasons. The officials of this colony have certain power, they have a great deal of power in the Council, and I think it quite right they should not take part in anything like an election of a member of the Legislative Council. I am decidedly of that opinion at present.
Hon. F. B. JOHNSON-May I be allowed to say I don't think Mr. Ryrie has answered the objection I raised. The question is not whether the officials who are Justices shall be allowed to vote or not, but whether they shall be prevented, not by a constitutional order which will remain on record, but by some private understanding. The same understanding which has prevented them from acting on this occasion may lead them to vote on another.
Hon. P. RYRIE-That is not what Mr. Francis said.
Mr. FRANCIS-I may say that although I proposed the resolution I had no hope that it would be carried in that form, and I simply moved it with the view of eliciting an expression of opinion in accordance with the remarks Mr. Johnson has just made. The official Justices of the Peace ought to be either voters or non-voters. It ought not to be in the power of the Governor, by an expression of opinion, to send them here to vote or to keep them away from a meeting like this.
Hon. P. RYRIE-Are we in order, Mr. Chairman, in discussing this matter at all? We are met here for a certain purpose. All we have to do is to elect a member, and that we have done.
Mr. FRANCIS-The resolution is equally in order with the vote of thanks to the Governor for the reconstitution of the Legislative Council; one is just as pertinent as the other. (Hear, hear.) If the Governor is to be thanked for one thing, attention ought to be called to what we consider a defect in another.
The following motion was then put--"This meeting regrets that the Justices of the Peace who are also Government Officials, but on whom the franchise was conferred by Her Majesty equally with the unofficial members of the bench of Justices, should for any reason have declined to take part in this election."
The voting was, for the motion, six; against, seventeen. The motion was consequently lost.
Hon. P. RYRIE-I beg to propose a vote of thanks to the Chairman for the able manner in which he has conducted this meeting.
Mr. FRANCIS-I have much pleasure in seconding that motion.
Carried by acclamation.
The CHAIRMAN-I am much obliged to you, gentlemen, for your vote of thanks.
23