The Ballot Bill now only awaits the third reading, which
is fixed for 30th May. The Bill was reported on Monday, after a long debate upon the method of taking the votes of electors who cannot read. Mr. Forster at first proposed to disfranchise them, un- less they produced a certificate from a magistrate stating that they could not read, but ultimately gave the certificate up. The illiterate voter, however, has still to make a declaration before a magistrate, which he is nearly certain not to do, and we are there- fore rid of all or nearly all voters who cannot read. It was ultimately arranged also that the presiding officer should make a mark for the illiterate voter in presence of the agents, and the Report was adopted, to the immense relief of Mr. Forster, who, after months of weary labour, has almost passed his bill as it originally stood. We wish him better employment for his faculties next time ; but we doubt if any other Minister could have got it through the House at all. The Members do not want it, if the constituencies do. There is one compensation for the Bill, however. Its passing will again render it possible to read Parlia- mentary debates without a conviction that there are not five men in the House who dare to speak their minds.
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