Report On The Administration Of The Punjab And Its Dependencies For 1884-85

· 1886 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1Phe xt vetae eclibatieal: can ibn possession of pameaee: eat erty.

2vithin Municipal limits of the value of not less than Rs. 100 or Rs. 200. or

3hs 300; (2) the payment of rent of Re. 1 or Rs. 2 per mensem ; (3) an income |

4of Rs. 100 a year or of Rs. 10, Rs. 15, Rs. 24, or Rs. 25 a month ; the amounts —

5of property, rent, or income being severally graduated according to the size of

6the town and means of the inhabitants. Sometimes the payment of land

7‘Yevenue or of land revenue and occupiers’ and owners’ rates under the sont e |

8” India Canal and Drainage Act, is also a qualification, the qualifying amounts .

9_ being Rs. 20, or Rs. 25, or Rs. 50 a year, according to circumstances. Not

10_ infrequently is added an educational franchise, either combined with some small

11income qualification or pure and simple. As in the case of District and Local

12Boards the general arrangement is to reserve orle-third of the maximum strength

13for appointments by name or office if required, the rest of the Committee —

14D fositios of elected numbers. It has already been mentioned that in a | few

15eases the Committees are wholly elective.

16By the end of September 1884, elections had been held in more than 100

17towns. There was no lack of candidates. Great interest was shown by the

18voters and people in the proceedings. The rules worked very well. There

19were few mistakes. or objections, and the free return of old unofficial members |

20assured sufficient continuity in municipal business: There was no approach to

21_ disturbance anywhere ; though in Amritsar party feeling ran so high as to give

22cause for some anxiety.

23Nia

24In fourteen Districts 788 rural elections for Local Board members were

25held about the same time. The electors often amounted to ten or twelve

26thousand in a single District. All passed off smoothly ; and in the arrangements

27‘more success was achieved than was anticipated. There was a fair amount of

28_ popular interest in the matter ; but there were no doubt some failures and errors

29_ owing chiefly to misapprehensions and to reluctance in the first instance on the

30ope of leading men to subject themselves to the ordeal of an election. This

31ey was, however, overcome as the objects and nature of the system became

32better understood. As might be expected the proceedings succeeded best in

33_ those parts of the country which are most advanced, such as ss late sans

34Amritsar and Lahore Divisions.

35re

3620. Mrurary.—A considerable number of the Punjab Volunteers attended —

37Raina Camp of Exercise, where their soldierly bearing earned much

38ise. The 1st Punjab Volunteer Rifle Corps has roo acquired | a Be |

39pans at La ent a Vea

40| ; 2nd and 3rd. Punjab’ clnnicer Rifle Corps, ave been eae | ‘ portec ror

41| e services of Colonel Parte ie lst Punjab Volunteer I ti

42Lis woneniths . Jed raat praet, jot the or n

431s canta for giving effect. to. ‘the depiaian! 5: ‘cael

44“ ghd control =, the Copeanderie Clie