HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXII, Issue 1670, 15 July 1892, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

July 12. A lengthy discussion was started by Mr Bees, who was or opinion that certain Nntive Bills were private Bills, and after a long debate divided the House on the queetioD after innumerable points of order the motion was lost by 39 to 27.

In reply to Mr Rhodes, the lion J. Ballance said he did not intend to deal with the question of the Taxation of Debentures at present but would bring down an amending Bill during the sesfion. Mi Rhodes moved the adjournment of the House, which brought up the lion \V. Rollefiton, Sir John, and Mr Geo. Fisher, who all strongly condemned the action of the Government, Hon. Mr Seddon defended the action of his colleague, the treasurer, and Mr Fiaher was speaking when be was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment, At the evening sitting the Companies Act Amendment was moved by Hon. Mr P. Reeves for its second reading, Mr Rolleston said that the Bill being one connected with financial proposals of the Government he would not oppose it at us present etago, but suggested that time should be given for its consideration, which was agreed to. Hon. J. BalUnce moved the second reading of the Birtha and Deaths Registration Amendment, providing that the information may be given to the proper authorities within two years. Read a second time. The Premier also moved the second reading of the Food Adulteration Bill, the object of which is to make the distinction clear between ordinary bread and fancy bread, in tact a reeciipt of the English law Bill read a second time. Hon. W. P. Reeves moved second reading of the Employers' Liability Bill. Mr Uolleeton hoped the Bill would be referred to a select Coaamittee. The mover agreeing, the Bill was referred to a select committee. The Hon. W. P. Reeves then moved the second reading of the Workmetis Lien Bill, which was a Bill similur in character to that of last year, with the i single exception of clause 13, which proves that a contractor shall give notice to a workman if he tubleta auy part of the work to a sub-contractor. Mr Taylor thought the Bill too complex. Mr Fisher thought it would give rise to litigation. Mr Hogg thought working men would never understand it. The Bill was read a second time, and afterwards referred to the Labour Bills Committee.

The House then went into Committee on the Oyeteriea Fill. Bill agreed to with amendments. The Electoral Bill wae further considered in Committee. Mr Carncross" amendment that candidate should mean ' any elector,' wan opposed by Sir J. Hall. Mr Fish did not see wby they should atop at advocating woman votes only. The

, Hon. J. Ballance said it wae the logical , conclusion, but the motion would imperil the Bill. Dr. Newman and Messrs Shera, McLean and Sandford aereed with the Premier. Mr Fisher ot<j m> t p<l to New Zealand being made the experimental land of fade, and strongly oppocod ihe griming of the franchise to women. Manors Fergus and Blake opposed the woman franchise, and Messrs McGuire and Tanner supported. The amendment was lost by 31 io 24, and the word ' man ' retained. The follovviing are the votes of the Canterbury members for the amendment:—Messrs Blake, tfhodes. Tanner and Tajler. Aerainet— Messrs Hull-Jones, Joyce, Me»edith, W. Rpeves, Moore, Rolleston. Sandford and Sounders and Sir John Hall. A further amendment was moved by Mr Fish to strike out the words •or her,' which was lost by 12 to 43, In clause 6, Mr Kelly (Invereargill) moved to strike out freehold qualification in favor of residence only. Mr Ballance said the amendment would not disturb the one man one vote. Mr Fish appealed to the Committee not to disturb the freehold qualiication. Mr Tanner hoped the amendment would be carriied, Mr Kelly (Bast Coast) opposed the amendment, as he lived in Auckland. The Hon. Mr Reeves strongly supported the amendment. Mr Fish twitted Mr Keeves with introducing class cries. Mr Hogg regarded the freehold clause as the blemish of the Bill. The amendment was warmly opposed by Messrs Rolleston, Mackenzie (Cluth.i). Mr Carncross supported the Bill as brought down by tho Premier Sir John Hall said he had learned with painful surprise the position that the Government had taken up over this matter, a position which was not at all creditable to it as a Government. This question must have been deliberately considered by the Government, and yet a prominent member of the Ministry, like Mr Reeves, strongly condemned a motion brought down in tho Government Bill. He thought the refusal of the freehold vote would be largely resented by every settler in the country. Mr Kelly (Invercargill) disclaimed any intention of attnoking property, and said he was strongly in favor of manhood suffrage. That was the reason he moved his amendment. Mr Meredith opposed the amendment, and supported the freehold qualification. The Hon. J. Ballance hoped the Committee would now come to a vote on the clause. Mr Fergus asked whether the Premier wished the Committee to support him or his friend, the Minister for Labor. The Hon J. Balance : I shall vote for the freehold clause. After the Telegraph Office closed on Wednesday morning, Mr Kelly's amendment was lost by 44 to 14. Of the fourteen who voted in the minority, Canterbury has the questionable honor of claiming no less than five, viz :— Messrs Joyce, W. P. Reeves, Sandford, Tanner and Taylor. Progress was reported at 2.10 a.m. July 13. Replying to ft question by Mr Hutchison, the Premier said he coild not undertake to send an officer to the West coast of the North Island to analyse the soil in the various districts. Replying to Mr Wilson, the Minister of Lands said ho could not undertake to bring in a Bill relating to bash firing this session.

Replying to Mr Rhodes, the sama Minister said he could not undertake to place a sum on the estimates to make roads to the Mount. Cook glaciers Mr O'Connor wished to know whether the Government would run trains to enable workmen to go and return from their work at rates not exceeding 2d for five miles, 4d for ten miles, and Gd for Gft en miles. In communicating the negative reply of the Railway Commissions to the House, Mr Seddon said he thought it was almost impertinent. A long discussion followed, in which the Commissioners were supported by Messrs Duthie, Fish, Harkness, Buchanan, Meredith and others. The motion for adjournment of House was lost. The following Bills were introduced : —Native Land (validation ot titles) Bill, Education Reserves Act Amendment Bill, Act to amend the Licensing Act, 1881, Coal Mines Acquisition Bill, Civil Service Officers Guarantee Bill. Mr Hutchison (Dunedin) moved the second reading of his Eight Hours Bill.. Mr Taylor looked upon the Bill as an abortion, with which Captain Russell agreed. Messrs Duthie and Pish eaid the principle of 8 hours as a legal day had long since been recognised- The Bill was ultimately, after a long discussion, read a second time. Mr Buckland's Public Works Act Amendment Bill, to enable the local bodies to make bye-laws for the regulation of traffic, was read a second time , with the consent of the Aliui6ter. The Oyster Fisheries Bill was further considered in Committee, when the Hon. J. Seddon said he proposed to exempt the South Island from the operation of the Bill. The remaining clauses of the Bill were passed with slight amendments. The Bankruptcy Bill wae committed, and the House rose at 1.10 a.m.