PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 48, 25 August 1905, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S SITTINGS, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MARRIAGE LAW. The Marriage Validation Bill was considered in committee after wo went to press yesterday. Some exception was taken to the- proviso to clause 3 (which validates • murriagea with deceased wife's niece or deceased husband's nephew contracted prior to tha passing of the Bill). This proviso is to the effect that any such marriage 6hall not bo validated if either of the parties to it has lawfully married some other person before tho passing of the Bill, and after some discussion the Hon. G. Jones moved to report progress at this cl'jse. Progress was reported, and the Bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee of the Council. LOCAL BILLS. The Wnngnnui Harbour Bqard Bill, tho Timaru Borough Drainage, Sewerage, and Loans Bill, and the Eltham Borough Drainage and Water Supply Empowering Bill, which have passed tho House, were read a second time. The Council rose at 3.15 p.in._ HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House continued its silting yesterday afternoon. MOTOR REGISTRATION. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Motor Registration Bill were agreed to. LOCAL BILLS. Local Bills occupied the attention of tho House for several hours. The Petone Borough Empowering Bill and the Eastbourne Road District Bill were put through final stages. Tho Wellington Hospital Contributors and Society for the Relief of the Aged Needy Exchange Bill, the Petorie Corporatino Waterworks. Bill, and the Masterton Trust Lands Trust Empowering Bill were put through tho Committee stage without amendment. The third readings wero fixed for Thursday next. ELECTORAL BILL. Tho Electoral Bill was further considered in Committee. At clause 81 (seamen may claim electoral rights) the Leader of the Opposition moved a new sub-clause to provide that an elector's right may be issued to any elector' who is incapacitated and unable to attend a voting booth. I'ho Minister in charge of the Bill. (Sir J. G. Ward) pointed out that the aniendm-snt should be made at a later clause, and it was accordingly postponed, and tie clanss passed unaltered. At clause 99 (nomination of candidates) Mr. Taylor moved tp amend tho clause by striking out subsection five, which read : "Every nomination paper of a. woman as a candidate shall be absolutely void and of no effect, and shall be rejected by the Returning Officer without question." It was, he aiid, an insult to half tho electors in the colony. He didn't balievo there were fire women in New Zealand who would accept nomination,, bat'there were women of exceptional ability who should not be excluded by statute, and he saw no reason why women should not hold any position to which the electors might elect them. He did not' wish to raise the general question. A brief debate ensued, in the course of which it was pointed out by Mr. Harding that the striking out of the suhssctiqn would not alter the existing position, as clause 14 of the Bill expressly stated that "Every male person, but no other person" was qualified to be a candidate for election. A division was called for by Mr. Taylor, and the amendment waaloat by 48 votes to 25. Mr. Buchanan moved io amend claus3 100 by substituting 10 per cent, in place of one-fourDh as tho proportion of the eucc£3sful candidate's vote requisite to be polled by an unsuccessful candidate to avoid forfeiture- of hi 3 deposit. ' Tho Minister explained that ths change ito one-fourth from 10 per cent. was due to tho fact that members who could not have any 'hope of boirig elected were put up for tha purpose of splitting votes. Any^man of ordinary ability, or knowledge would know -whether he had any chance of saving his deposit. Tha amendment was lost by thirtyeaven votes to thirty-five. At clause 101, An amendment was moved 'by Sir Wm. Steward preparatory to a very long series of amendments throughout the irest of .file Bill, the effect of which would bs.to substitute a ballot-card system for the present ballot-paper system. After discussion tiie amendment was rejected by fifty-three; votes to fourteen, and Sir Win. Steward then announced that 'he would not move 'any of his amendments. The voting showed that there were sixty-seven members present, although it was nearly 'half an hour after midnight — a 'record for tha session. The clauses dealing with (the method of .polling and the conduct of the ballot were passed without amendment, except in a matter of detail. Clause 128 (providing for the issue of voting permits up .to aaid including' the day of nomination) was amended to substitute the date of the iasue of the writ. Tha Leader of the- Opposition then moved hia amendment to provide that electors incapacitated by illness from' attending at a booth shall be given .electors' Tights. The 'Minister opposed the amendment on the ground that ifc would open the door to impersonation. After discussion the amendment .was lost by thirty-one votes to thirty. The Leader of the ' Opposition, then (1 a.m.) moved to report progress, pointing out that ithe amendment Bad been lost by the native vote, and that, any way, it was time to go home. The Colonial Secretary urged -that "the House should sit till 1.30. . Mr. Heke : "We have cast our votes as ,we thought proper." Why,' he asked, should 'they not do a3 they thought fit? Why, if .they believed in a party fiiat did better for them tfian my other party, should they follow ihe other party? -, Mr. Rhodes : Because we have nothing to give. (Laughter.) The motion to Teport progress was lost on the voices. At clause 128, on the motion of tho Colonial Secretary, a new paragraph was added providing for the numbering of voting permits. Another amendment was made, on the motion of the Minister, allowing a candidate to withdraw six (instead of five) days before tho polling day. Progress was reported at 1.20 a.m., and the House rose. COURSING. [by telegraph.— press association 1 PALMERSTON N., 24th Auguat. At the coursing meeting to-day Queen of Clubs beat Lord Cardigan in the final of the open &take. Tho Ganger beat Housegirl in the final supplementary stake, an.d Marquis beat Nobleman in the final of the local stake.