EVENING SITTING.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7743, 14 May 1887, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

, The. House -.resumed at 7.30 in committee on the. ... ' .ELECTORAL BILL. Mr Hislop moved %he addition of Kumarn, to the boroughs. : Mr Seddon said he did not particularly want' the hours extended in his district, which was, a scattered one. The amendment was pressed to a division ■nd was lost by 56 to 15, and Mr Seddon's clause was adaed to the bill by 40 to 37. A new clause re a, deposit of £25 excited • \ vigorous discussion. '■ Mr Seddon moved that the amount be reduced te £10,' which was.-.'.cfirried by 38' to: 32, and on Mr . Turnbult-s motion the deposit was re-" " stricted to elections in which a poll is. demanded. ■ There was. a. skirmish about the time that was being occupied with this bill,' 6OhVe]sniembers hinting that all * the diSchssioivrwas merely to keep back the Representation Bill, which: was next on the orderrpaper. Mr Turnbull; moved a further amend- ■ merit'toilter one-fifth to one-tenth, which was immediately put and carried, and the _, clause as amended was passed. ! BEPBESENTATION BILL. The Representation Bill was farther., considered in committee. ■ _ • . ■■'"'", Mr Cadman moved an addition to subsection 5, clause.3,!re(iuiring the,eointuis-.. sion in forming-electorates to combine'community of interests as far as possible; ■ ' Mr Seddou wished to see the present r boundaries retained as far as practicable; 1Mr G. F. 'Richardson proposed that facilities of, communication and topographical features should also be taken : into consideration.' : "• ; ' ■•■ ■ : Mr Seddon insisted ' upon his views, remarking that ,'tliey were trying to take' '■ away the rights of . the people in -some parts : without., asking their consent. They ' were attempting to do so with regard to „ -ICuraara, for dnstance. ■ JSven the most Conservative "leaders- of the House on _?. former occasions .had consulted members as to the boundaries of electoral districts, - But now they were, to have no voice-in the*'-' matter.' Mr Seddon spoke at some length; ! and moved to report progress. The Premier said he would accept the ■ suggestions of Mr Seddon and Mr Richard- : son, and Mr Cadman's amendment' was , altered accordingly. '„ Mr Seddon moved a further amendment; giving the commissioners pow^r to ■ t&ke a supplementary census if they 'had- r ~. 5 reason to believe a change of population had' taken place' in any district since .the . preceding official census. Tlie Premier said this might apply to mining districts in case of a sudden rush, but there. would be no finality if it were made applicable to the whole colony. Mr Seddon's amendment was negatived by' 54 to 23, whereupon Ue moved a further . : proviso that there sliould always be two ' •ensus returns taken before the electorates on the goldfields were altered, fie pleaded for fair play.to the West Coast districts, whose representation power was being taken away, remarking that he fslt tho blood of 1881 stirrfnsc within him. Mr Fislief: remarked: that Mr Seddou had taken up about two hours of the committee's time, and. begged him to remember that other members had amendments to biiDg forward, no. well as himself. Mr Fergus .thought Mr Seddon was within his rights, and he would have, his '{Mr Fergus'} support in ail reasonable proceedings.; : -•• , ' • • . ■ '. Mr Seddon said he was obliged to move his amendments in their proper place, and denied that he had occupied two - hoars of their time. ' Mr DaygftyiUe warned the Nerth Island. ' members that they were being led into a trap.: It was evident that certain members had no intention of allowing the bill . to be passed if they could help it. He characterised- this as political perfidy, and the outcome.pf aurintrjgne, ■ Mr Fergus said "tho lion, member was barking' lip the wrong tree. He denied' that lie. had any intention of stonewalling the hill or helping others to do it, but he would vote against the third reading if ; the bill came out of committee in a shape distasteful 'to him. Sir Robert Stout said that last year Mr Fergus had plotted against the bill in , tlie lobbies: • ; Mr Feigns denied the iratU ot the', statement.- -.',.- The Premier replied that Mr Fergus * had been doiri& all he could to prevent a compromise.' In his opinion Mr Fergus ' did not want the bill to pass at all, • especially; clause 3, in its 'present shape. As for Mr Seddon's amendment, it would not work, and the colony could not afford to take two censuses. Mr Leveafam said there were other districts besides the sroldfields subject to • fluctuations, and the proviso did not satisfy him. As to the bill' generally he would rather have none than the present one. Mr DargaviUe quoted Sir John Hall's declaration in 1881 as a solemn engagement by the then leader of the House • which ought to be respected. Mr Levestamsaid there was no mention of a population basis in what Sir John Hall stated, and he denied that it was in aiiy way binding. 1 Mir Robert Stout said it was evident that the bill could not got through committee _ unless a compromise of somesortwas made. He suggested that the number of members should be raised to 86, and a concession made in the percentage. If this were agreed to, with some slight alterations ju " the remaining clauses, he thought the bill might reasonably be allowed to pass. . Mr Bryce said there was no question of priucrple assailed; it was only one of degree. The. country members had shown themselves ready to give up a portion of, their present advantage, and he thought the .Premier might very well recede from his position; ' -- . TnePrcmier said that if there was to bo no compromise they had better go on and' fight ,the bill out. ' ' -. - Messrs Buckland, O'Callagban, and Reese expressed themselves in favor of a compromise. Air .Burrqn objected to alter the number of members again. ■ Mr Bryce 'did not think any good would come of an. attempt at a private compromise. TKey could settle it better on tho floor of the Honse. The discussion was kept ap till 1.30 a.m., when'ithe Premier suggested they should adjonrn in' the hope that after what had been said a compromise wouldbe arrived at pn Tuesday. " • Mr Bryce Tpaid if they adjourned lie was afraid t,h§y would now see the last of the bi11... ..9 Mr'S. Mackenzie said the majority of the House .hajl plainly declared tlieir will with regardto the 20 per ceut., and the ■'< 1 remier,,OßgUt to give way on that point. * (Lef| sitfing at 2,a,m.) ' ' ■