PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2179, 1 July 1890, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Wednesday

In the House the H»u. E. Mitchelson asked the indulgence of the Hoit-e on behalf of the Premier. He regretted to btate that Sir H. Atkinson's medical advisers had informed him that it would be exceedingly dangerous in the present state of his health to deliver the Financial Statement that night, and he now asked whether permission would be given to one of the Premier's colleagues to read the statement. The Hon. J. Ballance said bis side of the House would oily be too glad to agree to any arrangements that are considered best under the present circumstances, The Hon T. W. Hislop moved the second rearling of the Registration of Electors Bill, explaining that it was exactly the same bill aa that introduced last hession, and provid. d ohi.fly for the issue [of electoral rights for which voters had to renew tneir application every three years. One innovation in the bill was that provision was made for the registration of seamen. The Government had had under consideration whether special representation should be given to seamen, and when in committee be should a.-<k for direction whether such special representation, should be granted or whether the other mode should be adopted.

The H<<n. J. Ballance said th". Bill was no improvement on the present law, which he coDsi len d was, with some slight alterations, euffioienily practical for all purposes. He also failed to spe why seamen should have special representation any mure than any other class. He thought that a seamen's member wouid bu a nuisance in the House. Major Steward thought that if the I -ill were passed its operation should be postponed until the people hud time onuu b h to properly underataud its provisions. Air Tanner said that the Huuao having passed the oue mau one vote principle, the passage of the Bui was necessary in order to give the principle effect. The debate w;is interrupted by the adjournment at 5 30. Thursday. In the Council the Hou. Sir F. Whitaker moved the second reading of the Oaths Bill. He said the principal objects of the measure weie to get rid of all previous provisions relating to oaths and afiirinuUona or consolidate them. The motion was adopted. The event of the day wis a discussion on the second reading of Sir George Grey's Law Practitioner's Bill, which was the same in substance aa he has introduced each session for yeara past. There was a rather long discussion, but the motion was ultimately carried by 35 to 22 votes, and the date for the second reading tixed for July 10. Friday. In reply to a question, the Lion, T. W. Hislop said there was no truth in tho statement made in an Euglish journal called ' Fair Play' to the effect that two members of the Government oweJ £00,000 to the Batik of New Zealand.

A new bill entitled the ' Q linqannial Par« liamont Bill ' was introduced.

Mr Fulton resumed the debiteon the Registration of Electors Bill. He failed to see any force in the argument that persons could not understand the process of registration under this bill, and held that at present it was perfectly impossible for the registration offiuer to pur^e the rolls. Ttieir desire should be to get registration done in the best possible way, and with the least difficulty, aa every mi-mber was interested in tint being done.

Mr Peacock said the bill, in its main features, would have his hearty support, as he thought there were tew members who would not admit that the present rolls were ia a very deficient state. Ho referred to a ense in Auckland at last election in which 1500 circulars had been issued by one of the candidates, and no less than 360 were returned, as the persona named were not found, and he thought this gave a very good idea of the manner in which the rolls could be stuffed by interested persons. There was no reason why the bill should not be passed fchis aeasion. If it was found in committee that Mr Ballance'a assertion as to the disfranchising of half the electors if brought into operation at the next general election were sound, its opera lion could bn postponed till a f ter the election?. He hoped the bill would paes through committee, even if its operation wtre delayed.

After several other membero had spoken to the question, the Hon. E. Mitchelaon moved tue adjournment of the debate to enable the Premier to make a statement.

Ttie lion. Sir H. A. Atkinson said that he desired to make a short statement. He said that owing to the state of bis health ho had for some time past felt himself in a somewhat anomalous position. The circumstances were so peculiar and difficult that it had been impossible to decide finally what was the right course to pursue until that day, and he took the first opportunity of explaining to the House what had been dono. Ho had unfortunately been so unwell that it would be absolutely dangerous for him to enter into any excitiug debate whatever. He had therefore thought the proper course to pursue was to retire ; but his friends were very averse to Lis doing that, and he therefore proposed not to re.-igD, but to retain the Premiership. He was going to ask ih". House an extraordinary indulgence — to ixciiß« him from attending the chief debatesHe proposed to superintend the w irk of the Government, but not to undertake any work which would bo dangerous to him in his pre sent ondilion. He nvght say he waß quite capable of d >i<ig work not of an exciting nature. lie wished to assure tbe House that it was not from auy desire to escape work he asked for an indulgence of this kinr!.

Toe Hon. J. Billance said they were uot altogether unprepared on that side of the House for the aunouueemout that had just been made by tlie Premier. So, far as it affooted the hon. gentleitaa'a illness, he might say that siocejrley a.nd heartily they

exten led to the '< on. gentleman their warm sympathy, and he trusted it wonld not be aggravated by the public business which he was able to perform With regard to the arrangement just made, be would take an early opportunity of stating his opinion on it, but he was guile sure the indulgence aßked for by the Premier, so far as regards his own personal convenience and health, would be readily extended to him by the House.

Mr Reeves (3t. Albans) asked whether the Premier would retain the leadership of the House, or whether any of his colleagues would do se.

The Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson said he should be the nominal leader, and the responsibility would rest with him, but he should have to absent himself from the debates. His hon. colleague the Native Minister would lead the House in his absence.

At the evoniog sitting, the motion for the second reading of the Registration of Electors Bill was carried by 35 votes to 23.