THE FRANCHISE IN VICTORIA.

Press, Volume XXXV, Issue 4898, 19 April 1881, Page 3

THE FRANCHISE IN VICTORIA.

JJBY X__-B«BAra.j ._ ITer as. Te Anau, «* the Bluff j L MBLBOUBKE, April 11. Oo April 6th, Sir O. Sladen in the Council -..traduced a motion for a select committee to nt!*!. similar committee from the Assembly L. the purpose of jointly considering the SL__ of toe constitution. Mr Beid, the Government representative, suggested that X» Bill be read secondly, and - "leaded where necessary, and sent back to &s Assembly* leaving that Chamber to ask for rfoint committor. Messrs Ou.hb.rt and liuaerald supported the motion, which was tLjed. Upon the Council's message being EaJvgd in the Assembly, Mr Berry immeagreed to a joint committee. After j_jf _s hour's adjournment Mr Berry sub* She names telegraphed, which were re__ived with ill-fsTor by the Opposition. Mr ___ursy Smith declared that he would not help a friendly settlement. Sir J. O'Shanassy ,-jM the committee a farce, and considered the eisissura of bis own name was a personal femlt. Mr Ber*7 "P-i*-* 1 , in • , briik «*«_!_ saving that he was determmed not , gdßow the Assembly's Bill to be torn X«« in another place. In tbe Assembly .{_» committee was voted by ballots. Word «as given privately to Ministerialist to omit Ife Wrixon's name, who aooordmsfyonly re.rived 31; Berry, 73; Vale, 64 j tfirams- Longmore and Pearwn, 40. Mr f»rry,r9pljing to Sir 3. O'Sbanaasy's com ' -___tofi of omission from the committee, said £___aly that all obligations were entirely canSLd by Si? J, O'ShansMy'B opposition in SaeMt last. Tbe latter commenced to reply, *B«_a* that Mr Berry had violated' certain .Sii and committed fake acts, when he STsteppe-* by th* Speaker, who declared >L cut oi order. Sir B. O'Loghlen essayed -_n<ratßfas Sir J. O'Shanassy*s narrahve, but ns tuatlsrly de.it with by the Speaker. The LtesiKee* *«*« the Council and Assembly Set on the 7tb. After a slight demur from S* Assembly Hpresentatives, the Press were admitted. Si*" 0* Sladen recommended for. the constitution of the Council, _hTn,lßtsta» «* the two Houses, and the Blsotoral Act. M* Berry thought that the Bill* of the two Houses were sufficient for disis, which was ultimately agreed to. .gi_aßkden and others recommended that , tfee -Upper House should have forty-two nieaibaM, or proportionately to the present ABsmbly, to which Mr Berry did not object, sad that the Council's tenure be six years, learijse the joint dissolution open. Sir 0. gfldenthen introduced the question of protasfgarisl rsprsssntatives, but toe Assembly aeabOT fisted <**- & 0 ground of novelty Mr Cuthbert definitely proposed that the franchise should be £10 for frMJKId aid £20 for occupiers, and it was -agretd thereupon to adjourn tbe discussion. 7ja_ conference of committees sat from two a'aSck until six o'clock yesterday debating ihsqpHiion ot the franchise, without arriving StsissßelMion. Sir 0. Sladen mentioned that tbstrscpossl submitted by Mr. Cuthbert at the paribus tilting was ia no 'Way endorsed by fits Council's representatives as a whole; 'Sbmdsb was esmmerjeed by Sir- O. Sladen ... artssmg for a statement whether the Assembly "a_jß"itsd that the principle should be one -istisf qouification for an owner of freehold "erspertf, and one for the' occupier. Two hoari were spent in discussing this paint. MrfsUcndsxtooktoshow that the occupier *e» a more responsible and trustworthy atUm than the owner, but the Council memfansdbend to the view that the man who - la?etto4 his savings in real estate had given a sHffaf guarantee of his intention to per__hj_b_l/ reside in -the colony, while tbe esstrf.fr had not. Ultimately Mr Berry sug- , fts&i ftst all freeholders on the ratepayers' --n-h&QBld have the franchise. The com-mi-wescferced apart for hal.*an*hour, and ' Si? 0, $_t3ec then intimatedlbat tho Council's MSCMslagirss, were unanimous in offering ■TOSf-hs ratepayisg qualification for owners, for occupier., the existing SH*__£*ra*nts with regard to plural voting te ,;l»|]ts_otsißsd. Mr Berry offered to sfespt ' MO as o rating franchise for owners and oecu* . |}lea..s£i«. Both expressed surprise at the of the other. The Assembly's '•Jgbesestetives urged that the Service Ml gWfowd £10, £20 qualification, and that the eeaatry rejected even that in favor of a rate- < ffsja.' roU, The Connoil committee' replied t_s! Jths-Serviee Bill did not bind the Upper Beat., and that in descending from £50 fa&rhisato&O for owner and £25 for ocoupier tht Oounell were making an enormous ooneeasion. Sis Charles Sladen declared _hafc It was monstrous to expect the Council to desetad _roai£so ineohise to £10 at.a jump. It was agreed that if no understanding oould fee arrived at with regard to the franchise, the ©.nferaase must be abandoned, and a meerin* was arranged to take place at two o'clock this afternoon to give the committees' a final opportunity of coming to terms. The . u*£6iswsee between the Council and thh 2_3__sfcry was very much narrowed down by yesterday's proceedings. The Council has at Present 32,000 voters. The new franchise proposal by the Council gives 108,000 fflferfi&g the franchise to 76,000 sew hub. She final proposition of the Assembly is to extend the franchise to 143,000 electors, giving the franchise to 110,000 new men, a difference of 34,000 voters ia the two propositions.' Both Houses agreed to the £10 rating qualification for owners. 51» difference is that the Council requires . i&S sating fa? occupiers, and the Assembly wsats£lorating qualification. Though little woldiww seem to separate the two Souses, yet thaConference broke up as if nothing sat to tome of its labors.