HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7398, 13 September 1902, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tbo House mot at 2 30.

The Ruing Act Amendment, Oxford and Cust Roads Districts Alt. ration of Bound-tries Crown Suits _ ot. 1831 Amendmnt, and Pacific Cuble Authorisation Extension Bills were introduced and ivaci a first tini".

Tha Municipal Franchise Extrusion Bill was read a second time pro formi.

It W-.3 agreed that the Hcjso sit on Monday evening?. In committee on the Electoral Bill, a' clnu-ie 143, on -'ho motion ol Mr P.runi, it was agreed that the purging cf iho roll sh.iil only take place after a general election.

At clause 150, Mr J. Allen urged returning officeis nbou;d bavo powerto rstnove from approaching the polling boo'ln persjns displaying cirds and importuning electors to vote for a specified candidate. Sir J. G. Ward replied thai the off nco wnuld bo dealt within regulations issued to returning officers. An ainoiidru''nf, to clause 151, proposed by Mr Fawld-., was carried, making it unlawful on the day of the p.ill only to issue meek ballot papers. A proposal by'Mr Willis to prevent advertising in a newspaper in imitation of a b-vllot paper was 10.-t by 49 to 12. In clauso 105. penalty for n'glect to ftr.ni-di a return of candidates' expense.?, lUnj.ir Steward moved un audition to Mih-.lnu?o 0, imposing a penalty of £50 upon tho returning oilieer if he fails t) sen that sui-'h returns are not t.'.ade.

Mr Fisher said that provision for compelling a candidato to furnish a return of expanses should bo omitted, as ha considered that in many cases such returns wero unrnliablo. Tbe amendment was lost by 39 to 21. Tho House adjourned at 5.30.

The House resumed at 7.30.

I'l Committee on tho Electoral Bill, a proposal to hold the Maori elections on the same day of the elections of the European members was lost by 37 to 16. A motion that the Maori elections bo conducted on the lines of tho European elections whs lost by 33 to 24. A now sub section was added to provido that if through a mistako of the Government or a Government official the successful candidato is petitioned against, tbe latter shall not be required to pay tho legal expenses incurred. The offence ot " treating " electors was limited to the polling day. The end of tho Bill was reached at 11 o'clock, and the new clauses woro then considered. HThe new clause disqualifying a member from retaining his seat if ho bo found to bo of unsound mind was added to the Bill without division. Considerable discussion took place roregading the new clause to give power to appeal to tho Supreme Court against a decision of the Representation Commissioners as to new boundaries. It was qventually thrown out on the voices, and as a rosuh of this there will bo now no power of appeal. Tho new clauso proposing to give power to voao by electoral right to theatrical people permanently located in the colony mot with some condemnation. Tho Acting-Premier remarked that this class of people was the only one in the colony that was disfranchised. The clause was added to the Bill without division. A new clause was added to tho Bill exempting it from its operation all outlying islands except tlio Chathams. unless the Houso shall by resolution otherwise decide. On schedule 2, the electorates of Newtown and Htitfc were added to the list of electorates in which polls aro to close at 7 «.ra. Motueka, Riccarton, Port Chn'■_<*» ,;Grey Linn and Waitemata were similarly added The Bill was reported from committee shortly after midnight. On the"Acting-Premier moving the third reading of the Bill, Mr Monk obectod to the ■« Bill being httrried through. It seemed to him quite unreasonable to -ask that it bo-passed finally without the amendments-* being printed and cirordated for members consideration.'

Several members followqd witli laments over tho rejection of proposals favoured by them, and tbe Aq'ting-Fre-mior briefly replied. The Bill was road a third time on the voices.

At 12.35 a.m..:the Hoass adjourned until 7.80 p.m. oh Monday.