PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8668, 10 September 1891, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. . Wednesday. The Council met at half-past two p.m. PETITIONS. Mr. Pulton presented nine petitions, signed by 10,000 women in New Zealand, in favour of the Female Suffrage Bill. NATIVE LANDS BILL. The Native Affairs Committee brought up report on the .Native Land Bill, recommending that the Bill be laid aside till next session. . LOCAL BILLS. The Local Bills Committee brought up a report on the Thames Recreation Reserves Bill, the Wangauui River-Trust Bill, and the Committee recommended that the Bills be allowed to proceed without amendments. Mr. Fulton; in moving the second reading of the Female Suffrage Bill, said he did so with great diffidence, not because he did not believe in the provisions of the measure, but rather, because the question was fraught with such momentous issues to all classes. He claimed no favour for women, but simply justice. Why, he asked, should women be classed with prisoners, lunatics, and children? Why should they be debarred from exercising the dearest privilege enjoyed by men ? The well-being of the comnmity was involved in this matter, nor should it be supposed that the question of giviug women the right to vote was a fad or now question. Dr. Wallis.of Auckland, 12 years ago had advocated the measure, in his place in the House, and since then he (Mr. ulton) had read and thought a great deal upon the matter until at length he was led to tho belief that women should enjoy the privilege of recording their votes. He would ask were women to be placed on a par with thoseof Eastern nations, and compelled to veil their faces? Were women less moral or less intellectual than their sisters of former generations ? Look at our gracious Queen, who, beloved, and who with gentle sway ruled her. subjects ; was she not worthy of all honour, and did she not exercise her sovereignty better and worthier than men ? The lion, gentleman referred to Florence Nightingale, to George Eliot, and many others, who, by their goodness, and their purity, and he ir intellectual endowments, were at least equal to men; whilst in morals, he need not say, women were infinitely superior to men. The records of our primary and secondary schools and those of our universities showed that women were also superior to men. Happy was that home in which the advice of a good mother and wife was sought and followed. A woman's intellect was at least as keen as that of man, and, this being allowed, he failed to see why woman should not possess the privilege of voting, a duty whicfi would only occupy her time for half an hour once in three years. It had been pointed out that tho petitions presented had been comparatively few ; but, allowing this to be true, might it not with at least equal truth be asserted that the slaves of America did not at first plead for their freedom. Surely, he contended, women should at least be considered in laws affecting inheritance, divorce enactments, etc. Women did not ask for the franchise because they might govern, but rather that they might exercise an influence on those who govern. It had also been urged that if women were permitted to vote the principle would bring strife into many homes, but whoever said this ought, he believed, if the term were not considered unparliamentary, to be ashamed of themselves. He was not afraid to say that at times homes were better for a' slight difference of opinion. Mr. Bo wen thought Mr. Fulton had done wisely in not referring to the last clause in the Bill which provided that the Act shall not come into operation till 1893. The Bill was quite unconstitutional as the subject should have been first decided by the country at a general election. The provisions of the Bill created one of the most revolutionary measures which had ever been projected. He might say the women of the country had not been asked whether they desired the change or not. It was a revolutionary measure, which would affect our homes and our status for all time. Let them by all means respect the rights of women, but ho denied that they would be doing this by rushing the country into an unexpected revolution, for he unhesitatingly asserted this measure was of this character. The Bill had not been asked for. Were the petitions which had been rolled upon the floor of the House as he had seen water roll on the operatic stage, to be taken as the desire of the women of the colony for the franchise ? Hon. members knew as well as he did how easy it was to get up petitions of this kind. Side issues had been brought to bear such as the temperance "movement, but so far as he knew women for purely political purposes did not require the franchise. fie would go further, and say he believed that few women desired the franchise at all. The arena of political strife was 110 more their place than was the battlefield. At present the opinion of women was respected by men, and their opinions bad unmistakeably an influence upon men in politics as well as in every day life. Women's duties lay in their homes, in attending to the sick and needy, ancl these were too many and multifarious to permit them to eimage in political warfare. Hon. gentlemen knew full well how this political strife left men besmeared and bedraggled, and would men like to see their wives and daughters in like predicaments ? Nor should it be forgotten that the franchise was but the stopping stone to the legislature. If this were so they must recollect that it was just as probable that a bad woman would be returned as bad men sometimes were, and he begged the Council to think what a terrible moral degradation would then ensue, and believing very strongly on the point, _he moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Sir G. Wiiitmore opposed the Bill because it would be, he considered, unconstitutional to pass such an exceedingly revolutionary measure as this Bill was. A lady, who, if her name was mentioned, would be regarded as an authority, told him the other day that if she procured the franchise she would vote as her husband told her, and therefore she said she regarded the Bill as designed to give married men two votes instead of one. As he regarded tho general principles of the Bill as unconstitutional, ho should oppose the second reading. Mr. Stewart remarked that the speech of Mr. Bowen was one which was opposed to all reform. All reforms for years past had tended to elevate womankind. They asked why should a woman be debarred from exercising tho franchise ? Women were taxed, women were required to obey the laws, and not to extend to them tho rights of citizenship was barbaric, arbitrary, and despotic in the extreme. Men were regarded as equal in the eyes of the law, and why should not women be equally so regarded ? He denied that the measure was revolutionary as had been asserted, because a similar measure had been brought before the Ha use of Commons in 1827 and it should also be recollected that the tendency of the present age was to employ women in places heretofore monopolised by men. Already female ratepayers enjoyed the privilege of voting in municipal elections, and he thought the privilege should be extended to women so far as Parliamentary elections were concerned. _ The hon. gentleman expressed his intention of voting for the Bill. Dr. Pollen remarked he did not entertain the gloomy picture which had been limned by Mr. Bowen. The old song ran to the effeob that " when a man married Ills troubles began," but ho for one did not altogether believe that. There wero three courses open to the Council, one.being to reject the Bill.which he believed had been sent up to the Council that it might be rejected ; the second course was to pass the Bill as it stood, and tho third course was to amend it, and he advocated that as the best 0110 to be adopted. The Bill would have his support as far as it went, but in a characteristically humourous speech the hon. gentleman ridiculed the idea of women occupying seats in Parliament.

Mr. Millar expressed himself as being extremely disappointed nt the reasons put forward by Mr. Fulton in support of the Bill. It was little short of monstrous to ask Parliament to pass such a revolutionary measure as was the present Bill without first of all obtaining the opinion of the country upon it. He and others who opposed the Bill did not do so because they believed women did not possess intellectual attributes equal to those of men; their opposition solely arose from the fear that women would abandon the pedestal of respect upon which she had rightly been placed by man, and become thus soiled and besmirched by political turmoil. Mr. Pharazyn, in a speech of some length, supported the Bill on the grounds of expediency and justice. Mr. Wiiytis opposed the Bill, the principal reason for taking this course being his conviction that four-fifths of the women of the colony were against the measure. Nay, he would go further, and say that the agitation arose principally from the shrieking sisterhood. „ The debate was interrupted at nve o clock. The Council resumed at half past seven. Mr. Whytu. resumed the debate on the motion for, the Second reading of the Female Franchise Bill. In doing so he said that those who opposed the Bill were the champions of ' the sex, and could it be ascertained it would be found that women were also opposed to the measure ? He thought the Bill should be . postponed till the next general election in order that the opinion of the country might, be obtained as to the provisions of the Bill. A number of ladies in his own district had with one exception—and she was a terrorexpressed'their detestation of the Bill. He thought that coloured voting papers, if the Bill became 1b 'hould be used by women

voting with the view of ascertaining how many women took advantage of the privilege. • Mr. Reynolds moved the adjournment of the debate till next day. The Colonial Secretary expressed a hope that the adjournment of trie debate would be agreed to, as the Government was ahxious to proceed with very important business which brooked no delay. The debate was adjourned till next day.

MISCELLANEOUS. The Palmerston North Hospital District Bill was was read a third time and passed. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Amendment Bill.

Mr. Stevens said the Bill opened up a very important question, and that was whether the State or local bodies should open up main roads. He criticised the, Bill somewhat severely, but at the same time he said he should not oppose the measure. The second reading was carried on the voices. The New Plymouth Hospital Bill, the Wellington Boys' Institute Bill, and the University of Otago Council Election Bill, were read a second time. The Mining Bill was further considered in committee. Several verbal amendments were agreed to. The second paragraph of clause 104, " condition of license," was struck out. A clause was inserted giving tributers a sum equal in value to half the current rate of wages on the earnings of any mine. The Bill as amended was reported, and the third reading fixed for next day. The Dentists' Amendment Bill was committed. and slightly amended, and reported. The Selectors Land Re-valuation Amendment Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Council at ten p.m. adjourned to next day. '

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday. THE ESTIMATES. After the Telegraph Office closed this morning, the Justice Department Estimates passed without alteration, although Mr. Fish tried to cut off increases in salaries of some of the higher officers in the department. A motion to reduce the salary of the Inspector of Prisons (£700) by £200 was lost by a large majority. The House rose at half-past three a.m. - The House met at half-past two p.m. ORDER OF BUSINESS. In answer to a question from Mr. RolLESTON as to what business the Government proposed to go on with this session, Mr. Ballance said it was intended to bring the session to a close as soon as r>ossible, probably at the end of next week, if the discussion of the Estimates proceeded without waste of tim„-. He would be able to announce to-morrow what bills were to be proceeded with, but he must remind the House that some urgent business, over which they had no control, might arise. With reasonable despatch, however, the session ought to close either at the end of next week or early in the following week. He hoped to push the Bankruptcy Bill through if business would allow, for they were told that it had been so carefully dealt with by the Select Committee that it could be put through in about three hours, and they recognised that it was a matter of great importance to the commercial community. The Ocean Mail Service proposals would be submitted to the House on Monday or Tuesday next. As to the Public Works Statement he suggested that it should be discussed on the motion for going into Committee of Supply.

THE NATIVE LAND BILL. Mr. \V. Kelly presented a report from the Special Native Committee to the effect that the Native Land Bill be postponed till next session, and after two hours' debate thereport was ordered to lie on the table.

WATER SUPPLY BILL. On the motion of the Hon. J. McKenzie, the Water Supply Bill, to consolidate the laws relating to the powers of County Councils as to the construction of waterworks, and also to slightly amend them, was read a second time.

THE STAMPS ACT. Mr. Ballance moved the second reading of the Stamp Acts Amendment Bill, which, he explained, imposed a duty in the same way us a receipt on all passenger steamer tickets of the value of £2 and upwards, and proposed to impose a totalisator tax of 1£ per cent, on all machines at race meetings. " He intended the Bill to take effect from the beginning of Octeber next. Alt'. Palmer took strong objection to the recognition by this 'Bill of Metropolitan Racing Clubs, and said those clubs exercised their power in a very arbitrary manner over other clubs with a much better status in many cases, and which carried on more legitimate racing than the Metropolitan Clubs. _ He should endeavour to effect an alteration in this respect in committee. Messrs. Meredith and W. Hutchison objected to the - totalisator being recognised in-the way in which it was proposed to do in this Bill, and said the House should not encourage gambling in this manner. The motion was carried on the voices, aud the House adjourned at half-past five p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. PROPERTY TAX BILL. The Property Tax Bill, imposing a property tax of a penny in the £1 for the year ending 31st March next was read a second time.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. The Hon. J. McKenzie moved the second reading of the Land for Settlement Bill to authorise the acquisition of private property for settlement purposes when recommended by the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners to be appointed for that purpose, consisting of the Surveyor - General, the Property Tax Commissioner, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and the District Land Registrar of the district where the land to be acquired is situated. He argued that there was a real necessity for the resumption of land in the Canterbury and Hawke's Bay districts. It was contended that the Bill would open' the way to jobbery, but the fact of particulars of all transactions for compulsory taking of land having to appear in the Gazette, and then sanctioned by Parliament, should effectually dispel any I charge of that kind. Mr. Rolleston admitted that in some parts of the colony a strong necessity existed for some such system as was sketched in this Bill, but he thought the provisions of the measure were not .sufficiently guarded. In respect to the purpose which it was intended to be carried out, he was very much afraid that if . this Bill passed, the Minister would be besieged with people who would be desirous of disposing, not of the best land, but of the second-class land. Sir John Hall had some doubt as to whegher the present time was opportune for acquiring land of this kind, but lie thought the Government had done quite right in bringing the Bill forward. He hoped, however, the Government would proceed cautiously in the matter, and would not insist on proposals to bring the land under the perpetual lease system. Mr. Tanner believed lie expressed the opinion of several thousands of people in Canterbury when he said this Bill was one of the most important ever introduced into' the House. The Maori members objected to the prov sions in the Bill referring to native lands. After a protracted debate the motion for the seeond reading was agreed to on the voices. BILLS PASSED. Th Water Supply Bill and Property Tax Bill were put through their final stages. TARANAICI IRONSAND. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply Mr. E. M. Smitii moved, as an amendment, a resolution affirming the desirableness of appointing a Royal Commission to experiment in tnc smelting of New Zealand iron ores and iron sauds. Mr. Seddon* regretted the Government could not accept the amendment, but they would assist the member for New Plymouth in sending exhibits of iron sand and iron ore to the Chicago Exhibition. The amendment was lost on the voices. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then went into Committee of Supply for the consideration of Estimates. Education Department, £369,776. [Left sitting at two a.m.]