EVENING SITTING.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5535, 12 November 1879, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30. QUALIFICATION OF ELECTOKS BILLS. The consideration of the Qualification of Electors Billin committee was resumed. Mr Seddon moved an amendment in section 2 giving the franchise to every native being the owner of land to the value of £25 for which a Crown grant has been issued. Mr Murray moved another amendment conferring the franchise on natives whose names might be on the ratepayers' roll. Mr Moss moved a further amendment to the effect that the natives be not deprived of any electoral rights they possessed at the beginning of the present session. After considerable discussion, Mr Siddon's amendment was withdrawn, and also the amendment proposed by Mr Moss. Mr Murray's amendment was carried on a division by 29 to 19. In the subsection to clause 2, relating to the exclusion from the franchise of persons convicted of crime unless they had received a free pardon, an amendment was moved to add the words, " Or shall have undergone sentence for the same." The amendment was carried by 36 to 22. Clause 2 was then passed and also clauses 3, 4, and 5. Clauses were added declaring that the word " Maori " in the 4ct included halfcastes and their descendants by Maori women, and declaring also that nothing in the Act should be deemed to affect any right or privilege conferred by the Maori Representation Act. Progress was then reported, and the Hanse adjourned at 12.35 a.m.

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