ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 5, 6 July 1881, Page 2

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

? In the Legislative Cocuncil yesterday aftornoon tho Chinc-e Immigrant Bill was read a third timo. Dr. PoUou moved an amendment that it should bo operative only when the Chinese exceeded 2 per cent, of tho English population, but the amendment was lost by 14 votes to 7 For : Pollen, Pharazyn, Scotland, Nurse, Chamberlin, Martin, Brett. Against: Waterhouse, Frasor, Wilson, Acland, Robinson, Dignan, P. Buckley, Wood, Lahmann, Grace, Hart, Richmond, Meiizies, Whibaker. The bill was then road a third time and passed. The Banks and Bankers' Act, 1880, Amended Bill, introduced by Mr. Whitaker, was read a second time. "\nd tno council then went into commit' on tho Gaming and Lotteries Bill. At clause 44 progress was reported and the council adjourned at 4 50. The business of tho Lower Chamber yesterday was almo&t entirely confined to tho consideration of the Corrupt Practices Bill and the Regulation of Elections Bill— tho former being brought forward for its seoond reading and the latter for further consideration in committeo. Never did the House seem less disposed for serious business as during the afternoon. In fact, it appeared altogether demoralised, for there was scarcely over a quorum in the olmuibor. The greatest numbor presont at any timo, exclusive of the Speaker, was 29, while now and again only 26 heads could bo counted. Some of the members were dozing, others wore chatting, whilo scarcely a soul seemed to take any particular interest in what was being said or done Mr. Johnston, in introducing his Corrupt Practices Bill, briefly pointed out its piovisions, stating that there waa little now in thorn. Sovoral of the clauses had been taken from existing Act?, and an effort had beon made generally to securo as far us possible tho purity of olectiona. Since the bill was printed ho had seen the contents of a bill introduced into the Imperial Parliament on the same subject. This was more stringent, and some of itd provisions might wall bo introduced into tho present bill, ho thought. Ono of tho clauses in tho imperial measure provided that no candidate phould spend any mnney on his election save through the hands of au official election agont, who was to have power to spend money only upon election objects. Tho Engiah law also made it illegal to contract expouses for the private conveyance of electors to elections. Air. Johnston asked' the House to agreo to tho second reading of the bill as it now stood, and ho would beforo its committal bring down on tho sup* plemontary Order Paper clauses "to give effect to tho provisions referred to. Tho discussion which followed was purely of a committee character. Formerly it was usual to discuss only tho principles of a bill on its second reading, but this session mumbora have taken a doparturo from tho usual course, and run over rlausos in a moasuro, suggest amendments, »<" point out dofect3 which cannot bo dealt with oxoept in committee. Tho tone of tho disoussion on tho Corrupt Practices Bill showed that tho proposed " extra stringent" provisions would be favorably received by a considerable section of the Houbo when they were brought down. Mr. Ktador vVood wont ao far as to say tho bill would be utterly useless without them ; and Dr. Wallis was prepared to go to- almost any length to purge election* of all that is improper. Ho wanted to make it impossible to bribo nowspapers, so groat is his esteem for tho journals of New Zealand. He oven thought it wrong for Ministers to give balls and dinners, and specially sot his face against that species of diuhoneity which prompted members to davote their honorarium t) libraries and charities. He expressed a hope that a olause would be inserted to prevent this form of "nursing" constituencies. Tho hon. mem* ber described various kinds of " undue influence," which he classed under two headings, namely, physical and spiritual influence. Ono kind of influence iustanoed was that of an employer threatening t« olono his door 3 against an employ^ if ho did nob voto according to hiß (tho employer's) dictates, but another — and a spiritual — kind of influence quite as nocessary to provide against was shutting tho doors of neavon against persons who might not vote as they were desired to. Mr. Bastings took quite another view of the bill. Ho thought the House tried to do too much legislation, and foared that some day a bill would bo brought down to compel people to go to church threo times every Sunday. Mr. Georgo couldn't for tho life of him see the use of tho bill, and expressed his willingness to kill it outright by seconding any proposal to read it a second ti'tie that day six months if anyone would propose that course. Mr. Bunny, among other things, inveighed against election expennes, and wanted to see committees abolished altogether. Eventually the seoond reading was agreed to in the evening by tho thinnest hoaso of the sos3ion. Tho next business was the farther consideration of tho Regulation of Eloctions Bill in committee. There wa3 a long struggle over clause 58 ("How vacancies may bo created "). Mr. George wanted to insert an amendment, rendering void the election of any person accepting a position of profit from tho Crown while a member, but for providing for his re-election thereafter. 'J his a r id other amendments were negatived and the clause was passed as printed. Mr. Johnston brought down half-a-doz m new olaasoa to replace those struok out relative to written nominations. 'I hoy were passed without! amendment Tho gist of them is to tho following effect : — On tho nomination day thu returning officer shall at noon declare tho purpose for which tho meeting i* hold, after which every candidate shall be proposed and seconded in the umal form and a show of hands taken if more candidates aro proposed than the number of members to bo returned. If a poll is demanded, tho returning officer shall fix a day for taking such poll. The bill was reported with amendments, which, it was decided, should bo considered on Thursday next. Tho Premior announced that the Treasurer's Budget would bs brought down the next evening at 7-80 o'clock. The Chatham Islands Bill waa read a second time, and the House adjourned. THIS DAY. Mr. Downio Stewart presented a petition from 420 residents in Dunedin, praying that bottlo licenses bo not abolished. In answer to Mr. Reaves, Mr. Rolleston the Government int nded to abandon some native purchases and retain others. In answer to Mr J. B. Fisher, tho Premier said tho report of Messrs. Seed and Batkin from tho South Island had not been received, when it was, Government would bo able to say what steps would bo taken in th? matter. Mr. Bunny aßked the Government when the patients in the old Hospital, Wellington, would be removed to the new one. Tho Colonial Secretary said ho would be prepared to answer the ques'ion to-morrow.