PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10111, 9 August 1893, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Per Press Association,] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, August 8, The Council met at 2.30. PETITIONS. The Hon Dr Grace presented Sr petitionsigned by 242 shopkeepers of Wellington against the compulsory clause of the Shop Hours’ Bill. The Hon J. M’Qbkgor presented a petition from Otago in favour of the direct” veto. OTAGO HARBOUR, The Select Committee recommended that the Otago Harbour Empowering Bill should be allowed to proceed with amendments. STATE FORESTS. The Hoa C. C. Bowen moved—" That a description of the land proposed to be withdrawn from State forests in Otago and Wellington Provinces having been laid on tha table of this Council on July 12 last in pursuance of Section 2 of 'The New Zealand State Forests Act Amendment Act, 1888,’ this Council objects to these lands being so withdrawn.” He said that be hoped the Council would go a little further than ho had indicated, and would repeal the Act with a view to secure tho public forests and prevent the wilful waste of timber which was going on, and which had gone on for so many years past, especially where vested interests were concerned. Early this session ho found that three slices had been taken out of _ forest reserves. One of these slices consisted of 1700 acres in Otago, and another comprised 1000 acres in the Wellington Province. He did not believe that tbe Government was altogether to blame in the alienation of these reserves, .as he thought alienations were a departmental matter, but ho hoped the Government would take steps to prevent our rapidly decreasing forests from being altogether denuded. The Hon Dr Pollen cordially seconded tho motion.

The Colonial Secretary replying, said he was glad to see that the motion of his hoa friend had assumed a national aspect. So far as the motion affected Otago, he asked that it might be adjourned to a future day, by which time lie hoped to be in a position to obtain full particulars from the Lands Department. With regard to the motion so far as it related to certain forest land withdrawn ■ from SUto forests iu the ■Wellington land district, bis explanation was very simple, as a map on the table showed that a certain portion of a State forest at Palmerston North had been granted for special settlement purposes. Subt cquout to this the Palmerston North • Borough Council found that the land referred to was required by it for tho conservation of water for the supply of the town of Palmerston. The debate, on the motion of the Hon G. M’Lean, was adjourned. PUBLIC DOMAINS. On the motion for going into Committee on the Public Domains Act Amendment Bill, the Hon Dr Pollen, as an amendment, moved that the recommendation of the Waste Lands Committee, that the Bill* be not proceeded with, should be agreed to. After discussion tho amendment was lost, tha division being—Ayes 17, Noes 17, and the Speaker giving hia casting vote against tbe amendment. The Hon G. M’Lean asked the ruling of the Speaker as to whether the Bill was a local Bill. Tha Colonial Secretary thought the question should be raised when the Bill was ia Commitee. Tha Bill was committed pro forma and progress reported, with leave to sit again. BILLS.

The Mining Act Amendment Bill was read n first: time. The’Mangftwai Harbour Endowment Eaasrvo Bill passed through Committee with verbal amendments, and the third reading was agreed to. The Timber Floating Act Amendment Bill was committed. Verba! amendments wore agreed to in Clause 3, The Bill as amended was reported, and the third reading was iked for next day. FORESTS. Ob the motion of the Hon C. C. Bowkn the description of the lands referred to in a motion moved by him earlier in the day was sent to the Waste Lands Committee. The Council adjourned till next day. HOUSE OF KBPEBSBNTATIY.ES. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30. OAMAIIU LOANS CONSOLIDATION. Mr Duncan moved the adoption of the report oa the Oamaru Leans Consolidation Bill. After a lengthy discussion the report was adopted by 44 to 16, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. LEAVE Oi' ABSENCE. Farther leave of absence for fourteen days was granted to Sir G. Grey, and to the Hon J. G. Ward for cue week, on account of illness. QUESTIONS. Implying to Mr 0. H. Mills (on behalf of the member for Waimate), The Boa E. J. Seddon said his attention had been called to a recent case heard before Captain Wray, E.M., in which a, prosecution under taa Auctioneers Act broke down owing, as it appeared, to a defect in the Act, and he intended bringing in a Bill to remedy the defect, Replying to Mr Ehodes (ou behalf of the member for Waimate), Mr Seddon said the electoral rolls for the respective districts and registration forme would be procurable at posh office?, but the Government did not think it nooast ary to go the expense of advertising to that effect. Replying i.o Mr Hogg, Mr iiEDDON paid iaotruitioua would bo given to. the police to.be as careful as possible in the treatment, o? lunatics, who were detained at the various pobeo stations. Replying to Mr Wright, whether, the Minister for Education will, during the current half-year, allow payments of salary to ba made upon a working average instead of upon the strict average, owing to the loss of salary failing on teachers in State schools through the measles epidemic. The Hon W. P. Eezves said he had been making inquiries in this direction, and it would be about fourteen days before the necessary information could ba obtained. Ae soon aa it was received he would bo able to state what course would be taken on it. Replying to Mr Meredith, whether the Minister for Education will include in the Education estimates for the current year a cum to ba offered by the various Education Boards as prizes to boys attending our State schools for proficiency in elementary military drill. The Hon W. P. Beeves said a good deal more money would be devoted to educational purposes this year than last year, and he’did not feel justified in asking the House to make a new departure in this respect by voting' money for prizes which, if given at all, should be given by Education Boards.

Replying to Mr T. Thompson, The Hon K. J. Sejddon said it would be a dangerous precedent if an expert like Mr S. Vaila wore heard at the bar of the House in support cf hia scheme of railway management, and the Government did not thareiore feel wsrtaated in acceding to the request of certain petitions to the House oa this subject. Replying to Mr G. t'. Richardson, The Hon R. J. Seddon said that the ie?.Ht amount represented by outstanding Treasury bills einco the present Government took office v-ub jEUOi^OGu. ODVEBXMF.WT BUSINESS, The Hon K. .1. tizDoou moved—“ That on Monday, August 21, and for tho remainder of the session this House will meet on Mondays at half-past cevea p.m. for coueideratiou of Govr.iameut business only.’' Agreed to. The Hon E. J. Seddon moved—“ That after Wednesday next, August 9, Government business take precedence on Wednesdays.” Agreed to. ELECrOKAL BILL. 'The Electoral Bui was further considered in Committee. Clause 110, counting votes, elicited a.

lengthy discussion. The provision that where it shall appear to any deputy returning officer that less than fifty votes have been polled he shall not open the ballot-box but forward it to the returning officer, was strongly opposed by several members on the ground that there was no reason for the change proposed. Mr E. Thompson moved to strike opt the portion of the clause relating-tothiS- provision, The Houee-roseat 5.50.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. In Committee on the Electoral Bill. After further discussion, Mr Thompson's amendment was carried, end the clause, as amended, was agreed to. Tho following ia tho division list on the retention of subsection 2 of clause 110. detailing the number of votes in ballot boxes Ayes (13) : Earnshaw, Hall-Jones, Hogg, W. Hutchison, J. M’Kenzie, Meredith. Sandford, Saunders, Seddon, W. C. Smith, Steward, Stout and Tanner. Nous (38): Allen, Blake, Buchanan, Buckland, Carncross, Dutbie, Fish, Fisher, Fraser, Hamlin, Harkness, Houston, G. Hutchison, Eapa, W. Kelly, Lake, M. J. S. Mackenzie, T. Mackenzie, Mackintosh, M’Lean, C. H. Mills, J. Mills, Moore, Newman, Palmer, Parata, Rhodes, Kolleaton, Shera, E. M. Smith, Swan, Taipua, Taylor, R. Thompson, T. Thompson, Valentine, Wilson and Wiight. Pairs : For—Pinkerton, Joyce, Buick and Ward. , Against—L&wry, Hall, Russell and Bruce. Clause 145—Maori representation. Mr Shera moved that in defining the word “ Maori,” the word “ male ” he struck out. Mr Fish could not see how those members who voted for the extension of the franchise to European women should refuse it to Maori women. He should certainly vote for Mr Shera’s amendment. Sir B. Stout congratulated Mr Pish on having been convinced by the arguments he had heard in favour of woman, suffrage. Mr Fish said he had not altered hia opinions in any way as to women’s franchise, and he should later on propose an amendment in tho Bill which would erprass tha views ho had always held on this point. Mr Taipua felt to those membora who had supported giving tho franchise to Maori women. He also complimented Mr Pish on his change of opinion, and ho thought it would make him extremely popular with the ladies. Mr Kara support?d Mr Shera’a amendment very heartily, and he was glad to see tho House so unanimous on this subject.

Mr J. Mills thought they would not accept the amendment. He was one of those who strongly supported woman franchise, but thought they should not as yet extend the experiment to Maori women, as they were not sufficiently educated for it. Mr Parata supported tho amendment, and did not agree with Mr Mills wUen he said Maori women were not educated sufficiently to exercise the franchise. The Hon R. J. Seddon said ho had been informed that there was serious difficulty in getting Maori women on the roll, and they were also told that Maori women did not want the fianchise. After the assurances they had juab had from the Native members, however, he should not oppose the amendment. Mr Shera’a amendment was carried on the voices.

Clause 148—Qualification of Maori members.

Mr Shera moved that only male electors should be qualified to be members of the Houae for Maori electoral districts. Agreed to by 34 to 18. Clause 354 —Candidates may have use free of public schoolrooms, &c., for election meetings. Mr Buckland moved that this clause be struck out.

Lost by 33 to 15. The remaining clauses paessd without alteration

A new clause which stood in Sir John Hall’s name was moved to the effect that every public-house within two mile? of a polling booth should be closed on polling day, under penalty of .forfeiting the license.

A lengthy discussion ensued. The Hon E. J. Seddon wanted to know why the clause should nob be more general, and why public-houses within two miles were specified. The clausa was lost by 31 to 13.

The following is the division list: — Atkb (13): Allen, Earnshaw, HallJones, Harkness, Joyce, Kapa, J. Kelly, Meredith, Saunders, Stout, Taipua, Tanner and Taylor.

Noes (31): Blake, Buckland, Carncross, enroll, Dawson, Duncan, Duthie, Fish, Fraser, Hogg, Houston, Hutchison, G., Lake, M’lntcsb, M’Kenzie, J., Mills, C. H., Mills, J,, Mitchelson, Moore, O'Conor, Parata, Rhodes, Richardson, Eolleston, Seddon, Shers, Smith, E. M., Swan, Thompson, T., Wilson and Wright. Paieb : For Pinkerton. Against La wry. Sir E, Stout moved a now clause to Jrbe effect that the Registrar or Clerk of any Court in which any member has been adjudged a bankrupt, or declared to bo a public defaulter, or convicted of felony, or of corrupt practice, shall, within fortyeight hours after such adjudication, declaration or conviction, notify the Speaker thereof, and the penalty for any Registrar or Clerk failing to send such notification, shall not exceed £o for every day ho shall neglect to send the notification. A greed to on the voices. Mr E’ish moved a further new clause to the effect that the woman franchise shall hoc take effect till a plebiscite of ail men and women in the Colony shall be taken, and a majority of votes recorded in favour of giving woman suffrage. Ho held that it waa impossible to enrol the whole of the women of the Colony in time for the next general election. Clausa lost by 44 to 14, Hr Buchanan moved a further now clause, the main object of which he explained was to farther the purity of elections. The clause gave power to pay a person to inspect claims for enrolment at the same time and place as he might inspect the names already on the roll. The Eon R, J. Section approved of the clause, and eaid it was a necessary provision.

Carried on the voices. The Hon R. J. Seddon moved s new clause to the effect that every elector must specify which roil he wishes hia name to appears oa, and if any elector votes, or offers to vote, in any ether district than that du which his name appears on ■ tha roll, or allow hie name to be retained on more than one roll, ha is liable to be disqualified for sis months, and also to a penalty not exceeding j£so. The clause elicited strong opposition, but it was finally passed with several amendments by 24 to 21, the latter portion being struck out, which provided that if any person, notwithstanding his disqualification, attempted to vote in a district in which his name did nob appear oa the roll his vote should be disqualified, and be should be liable to a penalty of iCSO. A lengthy discussion took place on the schedules.

The Hon K. J, Seddon proposed a new schedule to the effect that the polls should close ac aaveu o’clock at me following electorates:—Auckland, ’Wellington, Chriatchuich, Dunedin, Parnell, Thames, Napier, Wanganui, Nelson, Lyttelton, Timaru, Oama.ni, Waiiaki, Eden, Caversharu, Invercargill, Avon, Port Chalmers and Palmer-don North. Agreed to. The Biliwr,a reported with amendments. The Hon It. J. Seddon said he bed intended to recommit the Bill in order to strike out the leaseholders' qualification, but as a recommittal would probably lead to consider able delay be should not move to that effect, but would get tho leaseholder qualification struck out in the Legislative Council. The amendments were agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time on Friday, The House rose at 1.45 a.m,