PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XIX, Issue 3231, 22 September 1892, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(SPECIAL TO STAB.)

WELLINGTON, September 21.

The Electoral Bill was dealt with in oommittee of the Council. The interpretation clause was postponed in order that machinery clauses might be first considered. Several gentlemen intimated that unless Bpecial provision giving women the right to vote by. letter were carried they would oppose the proposed reform. Inmates of charitable institutions are to be debarred from voting. This was opposed by the Attorney-General and others. Progress was repotted at olausa 48, The Council rose at 4.40.

In the House, the Friendly Societies Amendment, Manures Adulteration, Selectors Lands Beyaluation Continuance and Amendment Bills passed the second reading.

WELLINGTON, September 22. A large number of Bills were handled by the House last night. The second reading of the Manures Adulteration Bill was carried after a brief but favorable debate; Friendly Societies Apt Amendment Bill, whioh permits registration of juvenile societies, and the Settlers Land Eevalution Bill, giving settlers outside the Act. but who should come within its ■cope, the right of re-valuation, passed the second stage. The Land for Settlement Bill passed third reading with but little comment.

The Criminal Code Bill has come back from the Special Committee, afoer careful revision, with many amendments, the chief of which are that the age of consent is fourteen, not sixteen, years ; that flogging is provided for unnatural offences ; and the stringent clause about re-marriage before seven years' absence still being bigamy if the former husband or wife is alive, although the party had good reason to believe them dead, has been strnok out.

The Native Land Purchase Bill was got through committee without any amendment of consequence. Transfers of debentures must be endorsed by the Resident Magistrate or Land Court Judges. Sufficient area of land for the maintenance of natives shall be inalienable. Prior rights for the Crown to purohase land shall exist for only two years after the proclamation. The Hon. Mr. MoKenzie's Dairy In. dustry Bill was considered in committee for several hours. After much talk as to the definition of certain teohnical terms, clause four, giving powers of inspectors, was reached. Mr. T. Mackenzie considered these powers excessive and moved to restrict them simply to give access to factories. The Minister said the proposal would make the bill inoperative. The amendment was negatived by 36 to 8. The Minister agreed to strike out the power of inspection as to farms and buildings.