PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XLII, Issue 62, 10 September 1891, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

-*- LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. * Yesterday. FEMALE SUFFRAGE BILL. The Hon' J. FULTON, in moving the socond reading of the Female Suffrage -Bill f said he did so with great diffidence, not because he did not bqliovo in the provisions of the measure, but rathor because tho question was franjrht with such momentous isßuea to all clabseß. Ho claimed no favourjfor women, but Bimply justice Why, he asked, should women bo classified with prisoners, lunatics, and childron? Why should they bo debarred from exercising tho dearest privilogo enjoyed by men of exeroising tho franchise? The well-being of tho community was involved in the Bill, nor should it be snpposod that the question of giving tho women the right of voting was a fad, or a now question. Dr. Wallace, of Auckland, twelve years ago had advocated tho measuro in his pfaco in tho House, and since then he (Mr. Fulton), although at that time oppofieil to the proposition, had read and thonght a great deal upon tho matter till at longth ho was led to tho belief that women should enjoy tho privilege of recording their votes. Ho would ask wero our womon to bo placed on a par with those of eastern countries, who woro compollcd to veil thoir faces. Wore women loss moral or loss intellectual than their sisters of former guncrutions ? Look at our gracious Queen, who was beloved, and who with gontle sway ruled her subjects. Was sho not worthy of all honour, and did she not oxercho her sovereignty hotter and wortliier tlirin men. The hon. gentleman referred to Florence Nightingale, to George Eliot, and nvmy estimable womon, who by thoir goodiifcss, their purity, and thoir intellectual endowments, wore at least equal to mon, whilst in morals he need not say they were infinitolyHuperiortomon. Tho records of our primary ami secondary schools, and those of <>ur universities, showed that womon woro infinitely suporior to men. Happy was tint homo in which the advico of a good mother and wife was sought and followed. A woman'H intolleat was at least as keen as that of a man, and this being concedod, ho failed to see why a woman should not possess the privilege of voting — iv duty which would only occupy hor time half an hour onco in threo ye.'.M.y e.'.M. It had boon pointed out that the petitions presented had baen comparatively few, but, allowing this to be truo, might it not with at least equal trnth be assorted that tho slaves of America did not at firht plead for tlivir freodom. Suroly women should at least bo considered in laws affecting inhoritnnßO, divorce enactments, &o. It hod beon urged thnt we should soon havo women sitt'ng in the Legislature, but ho should like to point ont that womon must be ftr*t olected to Parliament, and this was not likely to bo brought about. Womon did not usk for tho frauohißO because they might govern, but rather that they mitfhfc oxercise a good influence on thoso who govorn. It bad also beon urged that if womon were pormittecl to voto the principle would bring strife into many now happy homos, but whoever said this ought, ho believed— if the torm wore not considered unparliamentary — to bo ashamod of therasolves. Ho was not afraid to Bay that at timos somo homes wero botter for a slight difference of opinion. The Hon. C. C. BOWEN thought that the Hon. J. Fulton had dono wiaoly in not roforring to tho last clauso in tho Bill, which provided that tho Act shall not como into oporation till 1893. Tho Bill was quite unconstitutional, as tho subject should have beon first deoided by tho country at a general election before coining before Parliament. Tho provisions of the Bill creatod ouo of the most revolutionary stato3 of affairs which had ovor boen projected. Ho might say that tho women of tho country had never beon asked whethor they desired the ohange or not. It was a revolutionary measure, whioh would afTeot our liomos and our status for all timo, and before tho couutry was asked to rush into the fray, it shonld liuve beon considered, not lightly or joaoscly, sia Homo had dono, but in a dispassionate spirit worthy of tho subject. Let them by nil means respect tho rights of women, but he douied they would bs doing this by rushing tho country into an unexpected revolntion, for he unhesitatingly asserted this measure was sneh. Tho Bill had not been asked for. Woro petitions which had been rolled upon the floor of tho House of Roprosontativos—as ho had seen a mighty stream roll on, or as ho had seen water roll on tho operatic stage — to be takon as the desiro of tho women of tho colony for the franchise? Hon. members know as well as he did how easy it was to get up petitions. Side issues had also been brought to boar in bringing iv the Bill, such as the temperance movement, but so far as ho knew, women for purely political purposes did not require the franchise, nay be would go further and gay that ho belioved fow womon desired it. The arona of politioal strife was no more thoir place than was the battle-field. At present tho opinion of women was respected by all good men, and their opinions had unmißtakeably an influence upon men in politics as well as in overy day life. Women's duties lay in their homes, in attending to tho sick and needy, and these duties were too numorous, too multifarious, to permit them engaging in politioal warfare. Hon. gentlemen knew fully Well how this political strifo left men besmirched and bedraggled, and would, ho asked, men like to boo their, wivea, Bisters, and daughters in a like predicament? Nor should it be forgotten that the franchise was but a steppingstone to the Legislature. If this were so, they must also recollect that it was just as probable that a bad woman shonld bo returned, as well as bad men sometimes wore, and he bfgged them to think what a terrible moral degradation would then ensue. Believing very strongly on the point, he moved that the Bill bo read a second timo that day six months. Tho Hon. Sir G. S. WHITMORE opposed ■{Jio Bill, beoauso it was, bo considered, unconstitutional to pass such a very exceedingly revolutionary measuro as this Bill was, without consulting tho constituencies. A lady, who, if her name was mentioned, would be regarded as an authority, told him the other day if she possessed the franohiso she would .voto as her husband told her, and therefore she said that she regarded the Bill as designed to give a married man two votes instead of one vote. As ho regarded the general principiGß or clio "til as tmconsunbxoxmlj lio shonld oppose the second reading. . Tho Hon. W, D. STEWART remarked that tbo speech of the Hon. C. C. Bowen was one. whioh was opposed to all reform. All reforms for years past had tonded io elevate womankind. Why, he asked, shonld women bo debarred from exercising the franchise P Women were taxed, women were required to obey the laws, and not to extend to them the rights of citizenship was barbarous, arbitrary and despotic in the extreme. Men were regarded as equal in the eyes of the law, and why should not women be equally so regarded? He denied that the measure was revolutionary, as had been asserted, because a similar proposition had been brought before the House of Commons in 1827, and it should also be recollected that the tendency of the ago was to employ « omen iv spheres heretofore monopolized by men. Already female ratepayers enjoyed the privilege of voting in municipal elections, and he thought tho privilege should be extended to women so far as Parliamentary elections were con-, cerned. The hon. gentleman oxpressed his intention to vote for the Bill. Tho Hon. Dr. POLLEN remarked that ho did not entertain tho gloomy picturo whioh had boon limned by the Hon. C. C. Bo won. The old song ran that when a man married Lub troubles began, but he for ono did not altogether believe this. There were three courses open to tho Council to pursno, one being to reject the Bill, which he belioved had been sont up to the Connoil that it might be rejected. The sooond course was to pass the Bill as it stood, and the third course was to amend it, and he advocated the second course as the ono to be adoptod. Tho Bill would have his support so far as the Bill went, but in a characteristically humourous speech he ridiculed the idea of women occupying seats in Parliament. Tho Hon. H. J. MILLER expressed himself as being extremely disappointed at the reasons put forward by the Hon. J. Fulton in support of the Bill. It was little short of boing monstrous to ask Parliament to pass such a revolutionary measure as tho present Bill was without first of all obtaining the opinion of tho country upon it. He and others who opposed the Bill did not do ao because thoy believed women did not possess intellectual attributes equal to those of men. Thoir opposition solely aroso from a fear that womon in entering the political arona would abandon tho pedestal of respect npon which she had rightly been placed by man, and bocomo soiled and besmirched by political turmoils. Tho Bible said alluding to woman, " Thy desire shall bo to thy husband and ho shall rulo over thoe," and, bolioving the truth of this statement, ho thought tho province of women was not in politics. The Hon. R. PHAEAZYN, in a spoooh of some longth, supported tho Bill oil tho grounds of oxpedienoy and justice. The' Hon. J. B. WHYTE opposed the Bill, the principal reason for taking this course being his conviction that four-fifths of the women of the colony wero against the measure. Nay, ho would go further, and would say that tho agitation arose principally from " the shrieking sisterhood." Tho debate was interrupted by the 5 o'clock adjournment. • ' i EvxNiNa Sitting. At 7.80 p.m. the Hon. J. B. WHYTE resumed the debate on the motion for the second reading of tho Female Suffrage Bill, and in doing so said that those who opposed the Bill wero really the champions of tho sex, and could it be ascertained ho folt assured it would bo found tha women woro also opposed to the measure. Ho thought the Bill shonld be postponed till the next general election in order that tho opinion of tho country might be obtained as to its provisions. A number of ladies in his own district had, with one exception— and aho cortainly was a terror -^expressed their detestation* of the Bill. He thought that coloured voting papers, if the Bill became law, should bo used by womon voting with a view to ascertaining how many women took advantage of the privilege of the franchise. The Hon. W. H. REYNOLDS moved tho adjournment of the debate till the next day. The Hon. R. HART, in speaking to the motion, took occasion to remark that it was tho duty of tho Connoil— which reprosonted tho whole of tho colony and not a portion only, as was the case with the Houso of Representatives— to throw out tho Bill becanse no expression of opinion had been made by the country as to the merits of tho Bill. i The COLONIAL SECRETARY expressed, the hope the adjournment of the debate would be agreed to, as the Government was anxious that evoning to prococd with very important business which brooked of no delay. The debate was adjourned till noxt day. PRIVATE BILL. The Palmerston North Hospital District Bill was oommitted, reported withont amendment, read a third time, and passed. GOVERNMENT LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES BILL. The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved

fcl'e second reading of the Government Loans l <i Local Bodies Amendment Bill. The Hon. E. C. S. STEVENS naid tho kill opened up a very important question, md that was whether tho State or the local budies should open up main roada. The hon. member oriticised the Bill somewhat d'jverely, but at the same time he said he should not oppo«e the measure. Tbe second reading of the Bill was agreed to on the voices, and it was ordered to be committed next day. SECOND BEADINOS. Tho COLONIAL SECRETARY moved tho second reading of the New Plymouth Hospital Bill, which was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill was ordered to be committed next day. The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of the Wellington Boys Institute Bill, and in doing so explained that tho Bill sought to empower the Mayor and Corporation of the City of Wellington to grant a lease of certain hind upon which to erect an institute for the recreation of boys. Tho motion was agreed to, and tho committal was set down for next day. The Otago University Bill was read a second timo. IN COMMITTEE. The Electoral Bill vna committed pro forma. Progress was roportcd, and leave was given to sit again next day. Tho Mining Bill was further considered in committee, and several verbal amendments were agreed to. The second paragraph in clause 104 " Conditions of license " was struck out. A now clause was inserted giving tributors a lion equal in value to half the curront rato of wages on tho earnings of the Haid mine. Tho Bill, as amendod, was reported, and the third reading was fixed for next day. The Dentists Amendment Bill was committed, and as slightly amended was reported, the third reading being fixed for next day. FINAL BTAGEB. Selectors Lands Re-yaluation Amendment Bill was read a third timo and passed. Tho Council at 10 p.m. adjourned to the next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Yesterday's Afternoon Sitting. native land bill. The report of the Native Land Bill Committee, recommending the postponement of the Bill until next session, was debated at fjreat longth. It was ultimately ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Rees gavo notice for the appointment of a committee to report this sossion upon a short Bill which he proposes to draft to meet difficulties of the greatest urgency. WATER SUPPLY BILL. The MINISTER for LANDS moved the second reading of this Bill, to consolidate tho laws relating to tho powers of County Counoils as to the construction of waterworks, and also to slightly amend them. This was agreed to. STAMP ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. The second reading of this Bill — which makes steamboat passenger tickets liable to the samo stamp tax as other kinds of receipts, and also imposes a tax of 1£ per cent, on moneys invested in the totalisator, and abolishes the duty chargeable on leases of native hind — was agreed to. Evenino Sitting, this year's taxation. The Property Tax Bill, imposing a property tax of a penny in the £ for the year ending the 31st March next, was read the second time. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT BILL. The MINISTER for LANDS moved the second reading of this Dill to authorise the acquisition of private property for settlement purposes when recommended by a Board of .Land Purchase Commissioners to be appointed for the purpo3o, consisting of tho Surveyor-Goneral, the Property Tax Commissioner, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and the District Land Registrar of the district whero tbe land to bo acquired is situated. He argued that there was real necessity for the resumption of land in the Canterbury and Hawko s Bay districts. The Hon. W. ROLLESTON did not deny that in Borne parts of tho colony strong necessity existed for tho purchase of estates for settlement, but he considered that all propo3ed purchases should, in the first instance, bo submitted to tho House. He feared that if the Bill were passod, Ministers would bo flooded with the applications of people desirous of selling inferior land. Sir George Grey, and Messrs. Tanner, Fergus, Rhodes, Duncan, C. H. Mills, and Meredith apoko in support of the Bill. Sir John Hall, and Messrs. Richardson, Valentine, and Buckland opposed it. Messrs. Kapa, Taipua, and Carroll objected to it being applied to native land. The second reading was agreed to on tho voices. REMOVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. The second reading of the Palmerston North Hospital Land Sales Validation Bill was agreed to. FINAL STAOES. The Water Supply Bill, and Property Tax Bill were put through all stages. TARANAKI IRON SAND. As on amendment to the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr. E. M. SMITH moved a resolution affirming tho desirableness of appointing a Royal Commission to experiment in the smelting of New Zealand iron ores and iron sands. The MINISTER for MINES said the Government could not accept the motion, but they would give assistance in sending exhibits of iron sand and its products to the Chicago Exhibition. The motion was lost on tho voices. THE EBTIMATES. The Estimates for the Education Department were taken into consideration. Replying to Dr. Newman, the Minister for Education said a vote would appear on the Supplementary Estimates providing for a subsidy at the rate of £ for £ on local expenditure on technical classes. As times improved, tbe Government hoped to be able to give more. Various items were oriticised, but the wholo of the Education votes (.£369,776), together with those o r the Lunaoy and Charitable Aid Department (J2410.694), were passed withont reduction. The House roso at 2 a.m.