PARLIAMENT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 4026, 31 August 1898, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ? p Tuesday, August 23. " The Council met at 2.30. THE BANKING BILL. The bill was further considered in committee. The Minister of Education undertook to further consider clause 14 in respect to a motion by Mr Jones that the number of proxies to be held by any proxy holder be reduced from 500 to 100. Clause 17, " Compensation may be accepted in respect to liability for calls." I Mr Rigg moved to strike the provision out, and Mr Stevens questioned whether it was not desirable to make all applicants go before the Supreme Court instead of allowing directors to deal with cases involving less than £250. The matter was eventually postponed for future deliberation, and the remaining clauses passed without amendment, and the bill was reported. FRANCHISE REFORM BILL. The bill was committed. A long discussion ensued on the interpretation clause 2. Mr Bigg moved that " lodger " be incorporated in the interpretation of 'residential occupant," and Mr Jennings that the qualification be reduced from £10 to £5. These were both negatived, and the clause passed unaltered. On clause 4, " Freehold qualification." Mr Bigg moved its expungment from the bill. Clause agreed to on the voices. Mr McLean's motion to amendment the qualification of "residential occupant " from three months was agreed to and six months substituted. Mr Jenkinson urged that the provision be Btruck out which prevents "residential occupants " voting on financial issues, but this was lost by 27 to 6, those voting in favor being Messrs McCullougb, Rigg, Jones, Jenkinson, and Pinkerton. A proposal by Mr McLean that nothing in the bill should apply to the election of members of a harbour board was negatived. Clause 15 was struck out on the motion of Mr Oliver, its provisions being to confer dual voting on man and wife. The bill was reported with amendments, and the third reading set down for next day. The Council rose at 5.10.