PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12069, 12 September 1902, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TEIEGRAPH.—rRESS ASSOCIATION.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Thtrsday.

Thb Council met at half-past two p.m.

RAILWAYS SUPERANNUATION FUND BILL.

The Hon. J. Holmes resumed the debate on the. second reading of the Government Railways Superannuation Fund Bill. _ He complained that there was no provision in the measure for the maintenance of the widow of a man who died soon after becoming superannuated. The Hon. J. E. Jenkinson thought a vote of railway servants should be taken beiore the scheme outlined in the Bill was brought into operation. After further debate the Bill was read, a second time, and referred to a Select Committee. STATE COAL MINES BILL. In committee on the State Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill, the Hon. G. McLean entered a protest against the clause enabling payments to be made by the Government without appropriation. 17)0 Bill was reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed. THE MIXING BILL. On the motion to go into committee on the Mining Act Amendment Bill there was considerable debate regarding the Parapara lease. Most of the speakers agreed with the provision in this connection. Several members, however, objected that the clause would give power to any Government to give effect to some of the worst features of the American trust abuses. It was also complained that it was difficult to see exactly what the effect of the clause would be. , Ultimately the Minister agreed to postpone consideration of this section. Progress was then reported. GOVERNMENT BILLS. The following Government Bills were read a second time: Birds Nuisance, Sharebrokers. Fisheries Encouragement, Land Transfer Act Amendment. LOCAL BILLS. The following local Bills were read a second time: — City of Christchtirch Electric Power and Loan Empowering, Pahiatua County Council Empowering, and Dilworth Trustees. The Egrnont County Districts Adjustment Bill went through committee without amendment, and was read a third time. The Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thcbsday. The House met at half-past two p.m. The House resumed in committee on the Electoral Bill, and Mr. Ell's amendment to clause 6, that the 28 per cent, quota, shall not be added to the population in any area within five miles of a post office at Auckland, Wellington. Christchurch, and Dunedin, was carried by 54 to 29. Mr. R. McKenzie moved an amendment to clause 7, reducing the quota from 1250 to 250. which was lost on the voices. A further proposal to reduce the quota to 550 was carried by 52 to 29. Sir W. Russell moved that the Commissioners in making any addition to, or deduction from, population should diminish the area of country rather than suburban constituencies. This was carried. At clause 14, sub-clause 5. Mr. E. G. Allen moved to exempt from disqualification members or the House of Representatives acting as Royal Commissioners, who shall be paid 20s per day travelling expenses exclusive of fares. This was lost by 49 to j 8. At clause 21, how vacancies may oc- j cur, sub-clause 5 was altered disqualifying I persons from a seat in the House if convicted j of any crime punishable by two instead of i five years' imprisonment. Mr. Tanner proposed a new clause dis- j qualifying a person found guilty of a cor- j rupt practice from having his name placed on the roll during the period for which the disqualification extends. This was lost by 37 to 17.

The House adjourned, at half-past five p.m. At half-past seven p.m. the House resumed in committee on the Electoral Bill. At clause 66, dealing with supplementary roll, Mr. Massey mossed to add a proviso, " That a list of all claims for enrolment accepted by the registrar after the printing of the main roll shall be open to inspection by the public." Mr. Pirani urged that the system adopted in Wellington, which had proved a great success, should be adopted throughout the colony. The amendment was lost by 35 to 26. In reply to Mr. Fisher, Sir J. Ward s< id the difficulty regarding the enrolment of members of the theatrical profession was that they were never long enough in my one place to qualify them as electors, but he would insert at the end of the Bill a provision to meet such, cases. At clause 79, Mr. J. Allen moved an amendment the effect of which would he to give electors' rights to all instead of confining such electors' rights .to commercial travellers and seamen.

Sir J. Ward opposed thj& amendment, contending that under it there would be no safety or secrecy. It would lead to personation, and would require an alteration of the whole of the electoral laws of the colony, which could not be done this session.

The proposal was rejected by 41 to 11. A further amendment by Mr. Pirani, extending electors' rights to those who may, on account of illness, be unable to attend the poll, or who may be absent from the district- on the day of polling, was lost. Mr. Monk moved, " That any married woman in a country electorate who may, from physical unfitness or the bad state of the roads, be unable to attend the poll, shall be entitled to an elector's right." This was lost by 56 to 23. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser moved to include co-operative labourers as entitled to electoral rights. This was lost by 37 to 23. At clause 98, deposit by candidates, Mr. Heke moved to increase the deposit to £25 instead of £10, provided by the Bill. This was lost on the voices, as was also a proposal to forfeit the deposit if a candidate did not poll one-fourth instead of onetenth of the number of votes received by the successful candidate.

It was agreed on the voices that a polling booth may be appointed at any place where there are"at least 15 voters.

Mr. Millar moved a proviso to clause ■108, " That any voting machine approved by the Colonial Secretary may be substituted for the ballot-box in recording votes," but after some discussion the motion was withdrawn.

Clause 114 was postponed for the purpose of redrafting the provision to prevent a paid scrutineer from voting. At clause 122, Mr. Ell moved an amendment as to the mode 01 voting, providing that the voter is to make a cross, having its centre within a square opposite the name of the candidate for whom he desires to vote, instead of marking out the name of the candidate for whom he desires not to vote.

[Left sitting.]