PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8662, 3 September 1891, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, Wellington, Wednesday. THE NATIVE LAND BILL. At a meeting of natives at the Parliamentary Buildings, to consider the Native Land Bill, complaint wac made that it had been brought forward at too late a period in the session. The committee appointed to discuss the Bill mot this morning, but the natives asked them to postpone tho consideration of the measure until to-morrow, when they would be prepared to submit certain resolutions embodying their views. This whs agreed to, as well as another application that four chiefs, representing the natives now in Wellington, should be allowed to appear before the committee and make statements. The native? object to the great powers proposed to be given to the Crown, and contend that the Bill virtually restores to tho crown the pre-emptive right. lb has boen suggested that a committoe representing the tribes should be allowed to confer with the Native Land Court because it is claimed that the Courts will have too much power as the Bill now stands. This suggestion is agreed with by the natives of the East 'oast, but those of the West Coast dissent from it, as they consider that the lands of the Gisborne and Poverty Bay natives wore hypothecate;!. The resolutions setting out the objections of the natives have been framed, and are to be placed before the committee to-morrow. All the petitions regard the Native Land Bill are to be referred to that committee.

THE TOTALISATOR TAX. The Bill amending the Stamp Act so as to provide for tho tax on totalisator investments is to be introduce i this session, and the tax will come into force at once after the Bill is assented to. PERSONAL REGISTRATION. When tho Electoral Bill was in committee this afternoon, Mr. Mitchelson moved his amendment requiring that every person wishing to have his name placed on the roll should attend personally before a registrar to do so. Ho suggested that in order to avoid inconvenience, postmasters in country districts should be appointed deputy-registrars. In moving this amendment, Mr. Mitchelson wanted to secure another safeguard for tho purity of elections, and to prevent roll-stuffing. The Premier said tho effect of the amendment would be to givo people who wanted to register their votes as much trouble as possible. He, therefore, could not accept it. The amendment was lost. Sir John Hall thought that the residential qualification, providing for residence for only one month in the district for which a man claimed to vote, gave great facilities for corruption. No alteration, however, was made in the term.

THE KUAOTUNU GOLDFIELD. ' In referenco to the petitions of A. Peebles, Kawhena Rangitn, William-White, and Samuel Neill, asking for a reward for the discovery of the Kuaotunu goldfield. the Gold fields and Mines Committee recommended that each of the petitioners bo informed that the regulations as to rewards for tho discovery of new goldtields will have to be adopted by the Coromjindei County Council before tho Government can subsid: i such a reward, and that in the meantime tho petitions be referred to tho Government for transmission to Warden Northcroft with a request that he will report upon them when the regulations are adopted by tho Council. MOUNT EDEN RIFLE RANGE. The Rifle Range at Mount Eden is in danger of being closed at the end of the present month, under an injunction, on the grifcind that it is a nuisance to the public. In vi >w of this, Mr. Palmer intends to ask the Minister of Defence what provision is to be made for a range for the Auckland volunteers. PETITIONS. The following Auckland petitions were presented to-day :—By the Hon. A.J. Cadman from E. O'Hare, asking for a grant of land for military services ; by Mr. Palmer from J. E. D. Spicer, asking for reinstatement, as a recording clerk in tho Deeds Registry office. VOTERS IN CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. During the discussion of the Electoral Bill to-night Mr. Buckland spoke of the old men who are inmates of tho Costley Home, Epsom, and said that in every election an attempt who made to put their names on the roll. There were about 100 very old men there. Many of them had for election purposes been induced to make false declarations to the effect that they had been for six months in the district, when as a in: rer of fact they had not. When the polling duy came, however, the custodian of the home locked the place and refused to let any of tho men out, so that, the matter was ended. It was inadvisable continued Mr. Bucklund to have the names of those old men on the roll. Thoy could have no interest in politics for they really had no interest in life, and only sit about in the sun waiting to die. lb was clear that, their votes were merely dummy votes for the person who secured them first. He asked tho Premier whether such men as these inmates of charitable institutions should not be disqualified from voting. Mr. Ballance replied that he did not think so. Mr. Buckland did not move any amendment and the discussion on the subject was not proceeded with. . FACTORIES BILL. The Legislative Council, to-day, on the motion of Mr. Man toll, added the following new clause to tho Factories Bill:—" This Act shall not apply to any factory or workroom which may be under the control of or managed by the New Zealand Railway Commissioners " It is anticipated that the Labour members in the House of Representatives will object strongly to this amendment, and that some trouble may result from, its insertion, but the Council seems determined to insist upon it, and will be stippot ted by a considerable section of the Lower House.

THE SHOP HOURS BILL. The fate of the Shop Hours Bill in the Council is regarded as sealed. The debate which took place to-day, although unfinished, went far to show that tho LogisU Live Councillors have made up their minds not to sanction any needlojs or vexatious interfering with the rights and liberties of individuals, and that in the opinion of many Councillors this Bill goes so thoroughly into that question as to be practically beyond amendment. The universal impression appears to be that the Council will throw it out without attempting to amend it, and that no measure framed on similar basis will have any chance of passing through the Legislative Council as now constituted. AUCTIONEERS BILL. The conference of members appointed by both Houses to consider the Auctioneers Bill has agreed as to the two clauses in dispute, Nos. 9 and 18. In clause 9 they recommend an alteration, which shall provide that all moneys received us license or registration fees shall be paid to the funds of the local authority of the district in which the licensee has his usual place of residence. Clause IS has been amended so that account sales shall be rendered within fourteen days instead of seven days, and the profits accruing to the person on whoso behalf a sale has taken place must also be paid within fourtefcn days. FEMALK SUFFRAGE. This afternoon, on the motion of the Premier, the order of the day, the further consideration of the Electoral Bill in committee, was postponed, and the House wont into Committee, • ostensibly to consider the Female Suffrage Bill. When Mr. Perceval took his seat the Premier announced that he proposed to take the Electoral Hi' 1 first. Sir John Hall protested, and said ho understood that his Bill was to have been brought forward at once. The Premier replied that they were already in Committee, upon the Electoral Bill, and it was in order to get the other measure into Committee that he had moved the postponement of the Electoral Bill. He intended to go on with the latter Bill at once, moving that clause 3— the interpretation clause,—in which an amendment wan proposed which would have tho effect of granting the suffrage to women, be postponed. Sir John Hall expressed his disappointment at this course, especially as the Electoral Bill has more than 100 clauses, and it-: consideration in Committee would occupy a great deal of time. A firm conviction prevails that the Go-

vertiment have arranged to throw the female suffrage? overboard, and that the surprising amicability of Mr. Fish to-day was due to such an understanding having been arrived at. The impression is that Ministers will • either accept an amendment deferring the coming into force of the Bill until after the next general election, or else that some other emasculating amendment will be inserted in the Bill in Committee, or that it will be allowed to be blocked until the late period of tho session shall afford a decent excuse for slaughtering the measure. Sir John Hall is thought to have made a mistake in uot maintaining his ground on the clause of the Electoral Bill instead of permitting himself to be diverted from the safe path by an illusive offor to facilitate his own Bill. There is a general feeling of certainty that female suffrage is doomed tor this session, unless unexpectedly saved by some unforeseen contingency; arising, which may enable its advocates to force it on the Government and the House. THE OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP. No regular meeting of tho Opposition party has yet been held to consider tho difficult question of leadership. A short informal consultation took place to-day, but only with reference to the Bryce banquet. At present the party are in some perplexity. They would choose Mr. lieston but for his extreme views on the land question. They would choose CaptainRussell but for his being a rich land owner. On the other hap.l they have an idea that the very radicalism as to ml which renders Mr. Roll els ton's leadership unacceptable to some of his side might help to popularise the party in the country, and it is also felt that to elect Captain Russell might play right into the hands of the other side who are known to be very desirous to see him chosen as leader for the simple reason that his wealth and land ownership would furnish a capital text on which to face inflammatory denunciation of his party as that of the wealthy and land-owning of their "classes," in fact, as opposed to the " masses," it being believed that thestrategetie advantage thus accruing to his opponents would move them notwithstanding the value of Captain Russell's acknowledged ability and popularity, and a special aptitude for party leadership. The Opposition are thus somewhat on the horns of a dilemma, and it is likely, as I pointed out yesterday, that they may solve the problem by leaving it to its own solution by effluxion of time, that is by electing no leader at present (unless perhaps someone may !bo chosen to look after the interests of the party during the recess), and waiting till next session to see if circumstances may have so far altered tho case as to furnish sound reasons for pitching upon one of tho gentlemen whose names have already been freely mentioned in connection with the party leadership.

THE HELENS VILLE RIVER AND THE RAILWAY. Complaint has been made that the frontage to the Helensville River is cut off from the residents by the railway. Messrs. Douglas Brothers, sawmillers, who have a mill there, feel very seriously inconvenienced, as they have no means of shipping timber if it is not taken under the railway bridge, and the Commissioners it is said will not give them permission to do so unle-s rental or toll is paid. Mr. Palmer proposes to ask tho Minister of Public Works if the Commissioners intend to enforce this regulation, or whether they will allow a concession, which seems reasonable, in giving the right to take the timber under the bridge. A SUDDEN MOVE. The entire basis of the Now Zealand political fibre was suddenly changed to day, so far as the Lower House could do so. With a single leap the last remnant of property qualification for voting has been abolished, and residential manhood suffrage adopted as tho sole electoral qualification. It happened thus : - When tho qualification clause came on Mr. Rees moved to strike out the freehold qualification. This was negatived, tho Opposition uniting with the majority of the Ministerial party to defeat the proposal. A more subtle device was then resorted to. Mr. Rees next moved to insert a leasehold qualification as well as freehold, and this was carried, several members favourable to the proposal voting for it on its own merits without waiting to reflect that by aiding to carry it they might bo endangering the more important question of freehold qualification which the Government had still retained in the new Bill. The result was speedily made manifest, and on the leasehold amendments being declared carried the Premier announced, amid loud cheers from his own side of the House, that the Government would not accept the clause as amended, and he moved that the whole subsection be struck out. This was carried by a huge majority. The effect is to leave manhood residential suffrage the sole remaining qualification for voters in New Zealand. I'he exact position in which the qualification question is left by to-day's proceedings is this : All tho words have been struck out after the word "estate" in the third line of the first subsection of clause G, the effect of which is to leave the subsection as follows Every person of the age of twenty-ono years or upwards being of his own right and not as a trustee a freehold estate "and there it ends, without the sentence being finished. The subsection has thus been rendered mere nonsense, and accordingly the Bill will be recommitted for the purpose of striking out these few introductory words which have been left in the clause. So far as present intentions go no: difficulty will be raised on the side of the Opposition party to this being done, as it is taken for grunted that the Legislative Council will intervene, and will either reinstate the excised subsection or else throw out the whole Bill. The former course is deemed the more probable, and in that case a sharp conflict between the two branches of the Legislature may be expected. JOTTINGS.

Correspondence regarding the defective gun at tho North Head forts is now goinu on between the Government and the makers, Messrs. Armstrong of England. J wing, it is supposed, to a Haw in the casting, a largo quantity of water came from the gum, which is to be sent back to England. The Government have received from Cassel's Company an offer to sell the patent light of their gold-saving process to the colony for £25.000, with a condition requiring a royally. it is not thought advisable by the Government, however, to pay so largo a sum as that asked for, espedally in view of tho fact that there are other processes which arc now being perfected. The petitions from natives to-day re pre sent* that for -everal years the native land laws have kept the native .lands in difficulties,'and ask that a Court or some other judicial body may be established to facilitate the method of dealing between Europeans and natives in regard to those lands. With respect to the announcement that Ministerialists are urging Mr. Napier to contest the Waikaco seat, the Premier states that the Government knows nothing of tho matter, and that they have not yet considered whether they will support any candidate for that. seat. Tho gossip goes that one member who is a supporter of tho Government, but who was independent enough to vote against the second reading of the Payment of .Members Bill, received so severe a wigging, not only from some of the rank ana file of the party, but from members of the Ministry as well, that he has now hardly the temerity to call his soul his own.

Before the hist election Sir John Hall says lie discovered just, in time that his name had been struck off the electoral roll in his district, and that the names of 14 of the old residents had also been removed. The member for Gerald Mr. Rhodes, has likewise a story to tell. His is that in j one important centre in his district the ' names of all the clergy men and school- ( masters were struck off the roll. The Special Committee appointed by the Legislative Council to consider the Customs and Excise Duties Bill, met to-day. Mr. Austin Walsh, Auckland, was present, to ifive evidence. The only business done, I lowever, was the appointment of Mr. J Bo wen as chairman, and the committee then 1 adjourned until to morrow. * The banquet to Mr. Bryce is to bo given ' in one of the committee rooms of the Par liamentary Buildings. The guests will comprise only the Opposition party at pre sent in the House, and some old members including Messrs. Allen, Hislop, and Men reith, who are at present in Wellington. It was felt that if the invitation list was further extended the number of guests would be practically limitless. * i

Mr. Guinness intends to move, when the Female Suffrage Bill is in committee, that only women whose names are on the ratepayers rolls of municipal corporations, ■ county councils or road boards, shall be qualified to vote for candidates : for Parliament. ' i One of the labour members, Mr. Tanner, I when advised nob to use a certain word I which might be unparliamentary—the word I " ashamed," by the way—said he believed i that those who had just entered the House from workshops, knew how to conduct themselves better than those who hadbeen in the House for years. ' The Auckland members who voted for the abolition of the property qualification from the Electoral Bill, are Messrs. Cadman, Houston, Palmer, Rees, R. Thompson, T. Thompson, and Sir G. Grey ; and those who voted against it are Messrs. Buckland, Lawry, Mitchelson, and Shera. Mr Shera condemned the proposal as inopportune, injudicious, and imprudent, ■ though he regretted having to vote against his colleague, Mr. Rees. . Speaking on the Electoral Bill to-night, Mr. Rees said at this last election in Auckland scores of people who had lived in that city for years found that their names had been struck off the rolls without any explained cause, and without their having received the slightest notice. Mr. C. 11. Mills wants a small sum placed 011 the Supplementary Estimates to pay the bare travelling expenses of delegates of the various branches of the Educational Institute to tho next annual meeting to be held in Christchurch in January, 1892. The abolition of the property qualification was opposed in an effective speech by Mr. Lawry, who contended that the House should instead remove the anomaly which gives voters in cities'three times the political power held by people in country districts. The clause in the Electoral Bill providing for a holiday on the day of a general election was retained to-night after considerable discussion.