HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4908, 7 May 1887, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

r Yesterday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions it was stated:— That if a list of the '' Independent" members was furnished to the Premier he -would consult the Speaker so as to obtain a small room in the Parliamentaiy buildings for their use. That pioposals would probably be brought down providing for the payment of penalties for the infraction of municipal byc-liiws without attendance at court. That the Railway Department had frequently -tried to compete with -waggon traffic, but without avail. That the question of reform in railway management would be dealt with in the Public Works Statement. That senior police sergeants in several towns were allowed to conduct policeprosecutions, as it led to promotion. That the Surveyor-General had been asked to arbitrate for the Government in Mrs Fraser's case, but demurred, as he had already dealt with the matter on Mr Percy Smith's report. The Government was not aware of any representation having been made by Colonel Fraser respecting Mr Cooper as arbitrator. That no complaints had reached the Railway Department respecting the revision of the railway tariff for carrying agricultural produce. Sir Robert Stout asked that the Representation Bill be postponed until Tuesday, as he was in hopes that some arrangement might be come to in that time.—Major Atkinson said the request was reasonable, but he regretted that the Premier was not in a position to go on with the bill.—The motion was agreed to. Sir Julius Vogel moved the second reading of the Local Authorities Jubilee Expenditure Bill. He said that nothing but strongly exceptional circumstances would justify, the House in regulating the expenditure of the local bodies, but the Jubilee of Her Majesty's reign was a very exceptional circumstance. Sir Vogel explained the object of the bill, which, he said, was to enable the local bodies to contribute to certain objects in celebration of Her Majesty's Jubilee. —Major Atkinson rertted he would have to oppose the bill but thought the local bodies were not in a position to contribute to a fund of this kind. Parliament should bo asked to make a grant if it was required. He suggested that the bill be postponed indefinitely.— Several other members opposed the bill on the ground that the local bodies could not afford contributions.—Sir Julius Vogel. eventually said the feeling of the House was evidently against the bill, and he moved for its withdrawal, which was agreed to. The Ward Conservation of Sights Bill and the High Schools Reserves Act Amendment passed through committee, and were read a third time and passed. Sir Robert Stout moved the second reading of the Wellington University College BIU, which he explained was intended to excend the benefits connected with higher education to the Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay districts. —Agreed to. Mr Tole moved the second reading of the Infante Guardianship and Contracts Bill. He said that the object of the bill was to enable a mother on the death of a child's father to obtain the guardianship of the child.—Agreed to. Sir Robert Stout moved the second reading of the Kermadec Islands Bill, authorising the annexation of those islands to New Zealand.-—Agreed to.

The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30, and went into committee on the Employment of Females Bill.—The bill was passed through •with slight amendments. The Premier moved the second reading of the Regulation of Elections Act Amendment Bill. He said that the chief provisions were that all ballot papers from the polling places were to he handed to the chief returning officer, and mixed up before counting, and that instead of putting the voter's number on his ballot paper it was to be put on a. counterfeit, and strict sscrecy thus observed. He believed that some objectionable features of the present system would be got rid of by this bill.—Mr Hursthouse objeetedto the delay that-would be caused by sending all the papers to the chief returning officer. The present system for preventing, personation was preferable to that proposed by tiie Premier.—Mr W. F. Buckland also objected to the bill. There were other ways of falsefying votes than' by,' personating, and these wcro not provided against. No real advantage was gained by the bill. Ho moved that it be read that day six months. Mr Fulton thought' the laws of the colony sn'ould be interfered with as seldom aa possible. The bill would givo little more security, if any, than at present. He had heard no complaints about the working , of the -present system. —Mr Fisher did not believe there had been any demand for a change. —He-regretted that the Premier had given the impression that the ballot ■was not secret! It was a totally erroneous impression.—Mr Kerr said that his experience was, ; that there was very little secrecy at all. The delay in making the result of an election known through keoping back the ballot-boxes would cause great dissatisfaction. — Colonel Fraser said that the Premier's description of the present method of dealing with the ballot papers" was wrong. There were many disadvantages in the bill. The ballot as . conducted now was as secret as possible, aiid the delay involved under the bill would be very serious. —Mr' Fitzherbert opposed the bill.—Mr Levestam would vote for the second reading, but disagreed with some of the provision's of the bill. The proposal to have butts to the ballot papers was a good idea. Major Atkinson believed that the bill suggested a better method than the present one. He depreoated dealing hastily with the measure, especially as there were some other reforms which might well be introduced into it. He did not like the elections all being held in one day, and he thought tho qualifications ought to be altered. The Victorian method of issuing: licenses to voters commended itself to him as a preventive against personation. He moved tho adjournment of the debate to give further time for consideration.—Mr Buckland withdrew his amendment, and the adjournment of the debate was carried, the Premier explaining that the bill was introduced in consequence of ■ numerous complaints that had reached him from outlying districts. _ Phe • Post-office Act Amendment Bill, making it penal to have in a person's possession any counterfeit stamp, was read a Second time. ' Mr BalTance moved the second reading , of the Naval and Military Settlers and , Volunteers Land Bill. He "said it embodied the result of the labors of the eommisjrJbn appointed last session to enquire' HHo the claims of the old 'soldiers and Volunteers. He proposed to refer the bi". to the Waste Lands Committee. —Severalmembers wanted to know on what ground certain claims had been rejected, and averred that there were some which the colony would have to satisfy, despite the findings of the conunis--eion. Mr Ballanco said the investigation had fcesn exceedingly comprehensive and specific. The grounds were given for tho -*»ay in which each claim had been dealt nth. He explained at considerable length the mothod of dealing with the . claims, and said that any disappointed claimants could appear before the Waste Lands Committee. —Tho bill was read a second time.

The Electoral Acts Amendment Bill was considered in committee.—Clause B—the registrar may remove from the roll the names of persons who have changed their residence — elicited a long discussion.— Major Atkinson suggested that a good way of purging the roll .world be by striking off the names - of 'persons "wlio had not voted at elections.—Sir Kobert Stowt said he proposed to introduce ■ ■ a bill making the electoral right of eveiyone last for three years.—ln. clause 4—no' objection to bo taken-at the poll against a residential voter oxcept that he- is- registered clsewherb—Mr O'Calligan moved an amendment placing freehold voters on the, same footing.—The clauee'as printed -was retained by 44 to 9.— In clause polling , hours to be extended : to <7' p.m.—Mr G-.' F. Richardson moved an amendment restricting the clciusu

to boroughs and cities.—Mr Reid wished to apply.it "to city electorates only.—Major Atkinson said the country members did not ■want the hours extended. He moved to report progress.—The motion was agreed to, and the House rose at 1.5 a.m.