LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 52, 30 August 1893, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

IESTFRBAT. FIKST K3ADINOS. Tho Industrial Conciliation Bill, ami Workmen's Wages 8111, were read tho l"rs tune FINAL STAOKS. ■ Tho Pharmacy Bill, the Otago Harbour Board Empowering Bill, and Rohe Potat Tm estigation of Titles Act Amendment Bill, passed their final stages. SECOND READING. The second reading of the Wanganui Hos pital Board Empowering Bill was agreed to THE ELECTORAL BILL. On the Electoral Bill being committed, The Hon..W C. Walker expressed the hope that the interpretation clause would b< postponed until the remaining clauses hail beon considered. He moved accordingly. Tho Hon. Dr. Pollen hoped the Council would* proceed with the Bill clause by clause He believed the majority of the Council wuin favour ot conferring the franchi&e U"O» women, and he trusted the Bill w.mld bt passed without the siightist amendment. This Colonial Secretary taid he was av^rM to the postponement of any clause. He w«tdetermined that, so far as he w as concert e<l , no amendment would be mad». He wanted the Bill, and the whole Bill, and he wculi! light out the principle contained in the Bill step by step. The Hon. J. Bigg said that although lip objected to women having the franchise, btill, if the Council in Committee decided that they ahould po&ess it, he thought they should enjoy it at the next general elections. The Council divided on the Hon. W C Walker's motion |for the postponement ot clause 2 (relating to the commencement of the operation of the Bill), which was lost by 29 to 9. The Hon. T. Kelly moved to so amend clause 2 that women would not enjoy the franchise till October 1894. This was lost by 33 to 4, and the clause as printed wat agreed to The following is the division list : — Ayes. —Messrs. Kelly, Man tell, Shrimski. Swanson. No 28. — Ackland, Barnicoat, Bolt, Bonar, Buckley, Dig- an, Feldwick, Grace. Hart, Holmes, Jenkinson, Jennings, Johnston, Waegragor, M'Cnllough, M Lean. Oimonil, Montgomery J harazyn, Richardson, Pollen, Reynolds, Rigg, Stevens, Stewart, Taiaroa, Walker, XV. C. Walker, W»ihawaka, Whitmore Williams, Kerr. On clause 3 (inte pretation clause) the Hon. W. C. Walker moved as nn amendment that tho words "commercial traveller" be strnck out. He failed to see why this class ehonld receive special advantages over other classes. After di cii^sion the mover withdrew his motion, and substituted a further amendment that the wouls "absent voters" be inserted at the commencement of the clause. He failed to rue why shearers, or. indeed, every per--ou in tho community, should not bo abe to exo • ciee his vote wherever he was, in case he might on the day of an election be absent from Mb home. The Hon. J. A. Bonar supported the amendment, as he thought tho Bill should !<c made as workable as possible. He tliou. li f every person, irrespective of c'a^s or tnuse should be allowed to exercise bis voic. n > matter in what portion of the colony lie might be on (.oiling day. The amendment was lost by 19 to 18. The Hon. B. Oliver moved that progress be reported* He took this cour.«e hpenusp it was well known that the Cliai ni.m ot Commit I U'Cc was not in good health, anil it was equally well known that it would l» difficult to obtain the services of a tempoiar\ Chaiiman while the Bill was in committee. This was agreed to, and progress was reported, with lea's c to sit again next «'ay. The Council ro*e at 5 oclock.