EVENING SITTING.

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

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 o'clock. THE ELECTORAL BILL. In (3on_nittee on the Electoral" Bill, at clause 176, providing regulations for the conduct of elections of Maori members, Mr HERRIES moved an addition to the effect that Maori elections be held on tibe same day as the election of European members. This was opposed by Sir JOSEPH WARD and lost by 37 votes to 16. Mr PIRANI moved- a new sub-clause to provide that after the Ist January, 1905, the Maori elections be conducted as nearly as can be on the lines of the European elections. He thought the time had arrived when the Maoris should record their votes by ballot. Mr PIRANrS proposal was (rejected by 33 votes to 24. Mr HEKE moved a new sub-clause, providing for the appointment of a Registrar of Electors for each Maori electoral district. Lost on the voices, and the whole clause was agreed to unaltered. At clause 183, dealing with electdon petitions, Mr HASELDEN moved a new subsection, to provide that if through the fault or mistake of the Government, or of a Government, official, a successful candidate is petitioned against, the latter shall not be required to pay the legal expenses incurrecL Several members spoke in support of this proposal, which was carried on a division by 39 votes to 20. At clause 186, which defines the offence of "treating," . Sir JOSEPH' WARD moved an amendment to prohibit a candidate "treating" an elector at any time between the date of nomination and the date of the poll, inclusive. This gave rise to considerable discussion. Several members urged that the clause as it stood was sufficiently drastic in prohibiting "treating" on polling days, while others submitted that votes were influenced by "treating" days before an election, especially at afternoon teas. Eventually Sir Joseph Ward's amendment was lost on the voices, and the offence of "treating" was limited to polling day an the terms of the Ball as originally introduced. Mr HASELDEN moved a new clause to (make it an illegal offence for Ministers to (interfere in a campaign outside their own electorates. Lost on the voices. The end of the Bill was reached at 10 55 p.m., and the Om___ttee then reverted to the postponed clause 114, regarding scrutineers. Sir JOSEPH WARD said he would have a new clause submitted in.the Legislative Council, and the clause was meanwhile agreed to. •New clause 142 A, providing for a recount,- added by the Statutes Revision Commdtitefe, was added to the Bill, together with a new clause proposed by Sir Joseph Ward, setting out what action shall be taken in the case of a member becoming insane. Sir JOSEPH WARD moved another new clause, providing for an appeal against the decision of the » Representation Commissioners to two judges of the Supreme Court, who are empowered to make such alteration in the boundaries of the electorate as they think just. After considerable discussion the proposed clause was rejected on the voices. Sir JOSEPH WARD moved a new clause providing for the enrolment of and issue of electors' rights to members of the theatrical profession who have been resident in the colony for not less than twelve months. Agreed to on the voices. On the motion of Sir JOSEPH WARD, a new clause was added, providing that the Act shall not apply to any of the outlying islands of New Zealand not now contained in any electoral district. But on a iresolution of House of Representatives the Governor by an Order-in-Council may include them within some electoral district of the colony, but such proclamation shall apply only to part one of the Act until the expiry of the. then existing Parliament. Riccarton, Port Chalmers, Newtown, Hutt, Grey Lynn, Motueka, and Waitemata were added to the list of electoral districts in which the poll closes at 7 p.m. The Bill was reported at 12.10 a.m. On the motion for the third reading a brief debate took place, in the course of which Mr JAMES ALLEN expressed the hope that the Government would place on the Supplementary Estimates a sum to recoup the member for Patea the expense he had been put to in connection with the attempt to unseat him. In replying Sir JOSEPH WARD raid the effect of Mr HaseLden's amendment would be to increase election petitions, as with the knowledge that the Government would be cast in costs should an election be rendered invalid as the result of a mistake made by the registration officer or the printer of the roll, speculative lawyers Would probably be found to take up cases. With a view of conserving the privileges of the House, he would have the necessary materfal amendments made by Governor's message instead of having it done in the Legislative Council.

The Bill then passed-its final stages on the voices. The House rose at 12.40 a.m.