AFTERNOON SITTING.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11377, 13 September 1902, Page 8

AFTERNOON SITTING.

Tbe House met at 2.30 o'clock. __RST READINGS. Tbe Rating Act Amendment, Oxford and Oust Roads Districts Alteration of Boundaries, Crown Suits .Act 1881 Ainendmeiia*

and the Pacific Cable Authorisation Extension Bills were introduced and read a flt-t time.* ' "-■ • MONIC3PAL The Municipal Franchise Extension Bill was read a second time pro forma. Monday sn-mros. It was agreed that the Bouse erti on Monday evenings. THB ELECTORAL BILL. The. House resumed in Committee on the Electoral Bill. V At clause 143, on the motion of Mr Pirani,. it was agreed that the pnrgmg of the. roll shall only take place after a general election. At clause 150, Mr J. AHen urged that returning officers should have power to remove from "the approaches to polling booths any person displaying cards importuning electors to vote for a specified candidate. Sir JOSEPH WARD replied that the offence would be dealt with in the regulations issued to returning officers. An amendment to clause 151, proposed by Mr Fowlds, -was carried, making it unlawful on the day of the poH only to issue mock ballot papers. A proposal by Mr Willis, to prevent advertising in a newspaper an imitation of a ballot paper, was lost by 49 votes to 12. In clause 165, penalty for neglect to furnish a return of a candidate's expenses, -Major STEWARD moved an addition to sub-clause 5 imposing a penalty of £50 upon the returning officer if he fails to see that such returns are not made. Mr FISHER said that the provision for compelling a candidate to furnish a return of expenses should be omitted, as he considered that in many cases such returns were unreliable. The amendment was lost by 39 votes to 21. The House adjourned at 5.30 o'clock.