HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5500, 1 October 1879, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tbesday, Septembbu 30. The House met at 2:30 p.m. ■. 'NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr Saundera gave notice that he would move the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the use made of the Government steamers and the telegraph system for che purpose of influencing the late elections: : Mr M'Lean gave notice that he would move that a return of all contracts for Government advertising, printing, &c, be laid on the table. QUESTIONS., Replying- tp'Mr : Tole, Mr Sheehan said the Government would put on the estimates a sufficient pum to equalise the salaries of all the officers in the gaols in thie colony, but that power would be reserved to ; allocate the salaries according to the services rendered. Replying to Mr Stevens, Mr Macandrew said that architects in the public service were .not allowed to compete in private practice. Replying to Mr Whyte, Mr Macandrew said- that till the bridge over the Waikato was finished, the construction of any portion of the line of railway from Hamilton to Te Aroha would not be commenced. Replying to Mr Swanson, Mr Macandrew sjid that provision had been made for workmen being paid at least every fortnight when employed on Government contracts. Mr Fulton asked what steps the Government proposed to take towards the establishment of a deaf arid dumb institution for the colony, and whether the services of competent instructors had been secured by the Agent-General. The Premier said the Government did intend to establish such an institution, and that, an; instructor would . arrive in December next. Replying to Captain Russell,, Mr Fisher said that steps had" been taken to insure the more punctual delivery of the San Francisco mail on the East Coast of the North Island. In reply to Mr Wakefield, Mr Thompson said that he would lay before the House a paper showing the number of allotments offered for.- '.sale, for cash or. deferred payments under the Railway Reserves Sale Act, 1878, the area of such allotments, and the price obtained; and indicating what purchasers on deferred payments had since abandoned their purchase?. NEW BILLS. The following bills were introduced and read a first' time >— Oamaru Waterworks lijj^n Bill'^Shrimski), Slaughter House Act Amendment Bill (Tple), to altei the terms of trust lands at Napier (Sutton) bill to provide for formation of specia settlements to amend the Land Act, 187"; (Thomson), bill to amend the Resident Magistrates Act, 1867, Bill to amend the District Courts Act, 1858 (Pitt), the Napier and Meanee Recreation Ground Bill (Russell). ADDRESS IN KEPLY. Mr Andrews moved that a respectful address be presented to the Governor in reply to his Excellency's speech. He said that it must be satisfactory to all parties to read of the soundness of the finances 4f_+he colony. Referring to the policy seif»rth in the speech, he said, in respect to the extension of the franchise, that what was urgently required was the residential clause, and he believed that that would be what the Heuse would be asked to pass. None but residents and real colonists, he hoped,, would be provided with the franchise. He thought that the bill which would be introduced would meet all the requirements of the case. He considered that a simpler mode of registration was necessary. The registration of a dog was a very simple proceedidg, but not/ so with an elector. A man might land here with many thousands of pounds, and it was not till a particular period of the year that he could register. Then, again, there was the form, out oi which many informalities might arise. The hours at. present fixed for polling at elections were also objected to by the speaker. He referred to the electoral roll of Ohristchurch, on which, he said, there were at least 3500 names, but many of whom were unable to vote : only 2500 voted at the late election, and the speaker urged that the reason was that the working classes had- not had the opportunity of recording their votes. He believed that what was necessary was thai the poll should be kept apen till 5 or d o'clock,. or even 7or 8 o'clock in the evening. He believed that the time hac arrived ' when a change in favor oi triennial Parliaments was urgentlj required by the colony. The hon. mem

hoy touched upon the several points of policy indicated in the Governor's speech, and concluded with expressing his conviction that a great Liberal policy was demanded by the cmntry, and he trusted both sides of the House would concur in passing laws that would bring such a policy into operation. , Mi Hurst seconded the motion',- Slid reviewed the several clauses of the address. At 4.30 Mr Hall moved the adjournment of the House until 7.30, which was agreed to.