PARLIAMENT.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 66, 16 September 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

THE SECOND BALLOT. THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, yesterday. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock. On the motion to go into Committee on the Second Ballot Bill the Hons.^ Sinclair and Kelly defended the Bill ,and expressed their intention of supporting the measure. The Hon. 0. Samuel adversely criticised the measure, and contended that it was not advisable to change the mode of electing members to the House. He particularly objected to the proviso of clause 2, and the "gag clause."

The Hon. W. C. F. Carncrpss expressed his intention of opposing the "gag "clause."

The Hon. W. W. McArdle said he would support the Bill generally, but would oppose the proviso of clause 2. The Hon. J. B. Callan described the "gag clause" as a deliberate blow at the liberty of the press. He hoped the clause would be rejected. The Hon. A. Baldey said he would support the Bill, but oppose the five hundred majority proviso. The Hon. T. H. Paul objected to the "gag clause," and the five hundred majority proviso. The Attorney-General said in reply to the criticism of the Council that he was prepared in Committee to remove the five hundred majority proviso of clause 2. " He justified the inclusion of clause 19 (the "gag clause"), 4vhich had the support of the majority of the members of the House, and it was considered that the clause was a reasonable ojie. He justified .the clause, which would give each candidate a fair opportunity of obtaining the suffrages of his fellows in the interval between the first and second ballot. He proposed to submit an amendment to provide for the publication of a statement if true in substance, and if the publication thereof is for the public benefit.

Clause 1 passed unaniended

The proviso to. clause 2 was struck out. Clauses 3to 17 were passed unamended. Consideration of clause 18 was postponed until after clsicse 19 had been dealt with.

The Hon. J. Rigg moved an amendment to strike out the first lino it the clause.

The amendment was rejected by ? 7 to 10. -

Dr Findlay moved an amendment to sub-clause 1, clause 19, to provide for its being an offence for any person to address or take part in any" public meeting with, intent to promote or oppose the election of any candidate at a second ballot. » After a lengthy discussion, the amendment was agreed to by 17 votes to 6.

Dr Findlay moved a, further subclause to make the provisions of the Bill inoperative in the case of any newspaper publishing any statement of fact if the same were genuinely for the public benefit. After debate, the. amendment was' agreed to on the voices. Hon. J. -agg moved a new subclause'to, restrict clause 19 to electoral districts named in the first schedule of the Bill.

Mr Rigg's motion was rejected on the voices.

Clause 19 as amended was agreed to by 16 votes to 7.

Clauses 20 to 22 inclusive were agreed to without amendment. Clause 18 was amended to provide tliat^every candidate or other person who is knowingly a party to any breach, of the provisions of sub-clause 4 is guilty of corrupt practice. . A new clause was added to provide that the licensing poll should not be affected in the case of a second ballot.

The Bill was reported with amendments, and set down for the third reading on the following day.

Tho Council rose at 1.20 a.m