PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

, [BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday. Ths Council met at half-past two p.m.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

Leave of absence for the remainder of flio session was granted to the Hon. W. Montgomery on account of illness.

THE MINING BILL,

The Mining Act Amendment Bill was 'recommitted, and clause 2, dealing with the Para para lands, was further discussed. On the motion of the Hon. J. Rigg a- provision was inserted that the manner of fixing the terms on which the lease may be purchased by the State must be set forth in the lease. It was also made clear, on the recommendation of the Goldfields and Mine- Committee, that no area in respect of which any mining privilege already exists shall be included in the lease. The clause as amended was passed. A motion by the Hon. R. Peeves to strike out the provision that no miner shall be required to bo underground for longer than eight hours continuously, was carried bv 17 to 7. The clause as'amended was carried. The Hon. A. Pitt brought up several amendments devised with the object of oiving the Supreme Court jurisdiction m minim: cases where the value of the property involved is over £500, and of providing machinery for the removal of cases from the Warden's to the Supreme Court. . The Minister said the people concerned tad no desire to bring in the Supreme Court, being quite satisfied with the tribunals now provided. He opposed the amendments, which were lost. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Council rose at half-past four p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday. ELECTORAL BILL. After tho telegraph office closed the House continued in committee on the Electoral Bill. Clause 13/, providing machinery for a second ballot was struck out without debate, the voting being 55 to 26.. Progress was tnen report i and the House rose at half-past two a.m. The House met at half-past two p.m. FIRST READINGS! The Rating Act Amendment Bill, the Oxford and Cust Road Districts Alteration of Boundaries Bill, the Crown Suits Act, 1881, Amendment Bill, and the Pacific Cable Authorisation Extension Bill were introduced and read a first time. MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE BILL. The Municipal Franchise Extension Bill was read a second time pro forma. MONDAY SITTINGS. ' It was agreed that the House sit on Monday evenings. ■ ELECTORAL BILL. In committee on uie Electoral Bill at clause 145. on the motion of Mr. Pirani, it was agreed that the purging of the rolls shall only take place after a general election. At clause 150 Mr. J. Allen urged that returning officers should Have power to remove from the approaches of the polling booth persons displaying cants importuning .electors to vote for a specified candidate. Sir J. Ward replied that the offence : Would be dealt with in the regulations issued ,to the returning officers. An amendment to clause 151, proposed by Mr. Fowlcjs, was carried, making it unlawful on the day of the poll only, to issue mock ballot papers. A proposal by Mr. Willis to prevent advertising in a newspaper in imitation of a ballot paper was lost by 49 to 12. In clause 165, penalty for. neglect. to furnish a return of candidates' expenses, Major Steward moved an addition to subclause 5, imposing a penalty of £50 upon the returning officer if he fails to see that such returns are made. Mr. Fisher said that the provision for compelling a. candidate to furnish a • return of expenses should be omitted, as he Considered that in many cases such returns were unreliable. The amendment was lost by 59 to 21. The House adjourned at half-past five J».m. The House resumed at half-past seven p.m. in committee on the Electoral Bill. At clause 176. providing regulations for the conduct of the elections of Maori members. Mr. Hemes moved an addition to the effect that Maori elections be held on the same day as the elections of European members. This was opposed by Sir J. Ward, and lost by 37 to 16. Mr. Pirani moved a new sub-clause to provide that after January 1, 1905. Maori elections be conducted as nearly as can be on the lines of European elections. He thought the time had arrived when the Maoris should record their vales by ballot.

The proposa.l was rejected by 35 to 24. Mr. Heke moved a Hew suo-clause, pro- 1 "riding for the appointment of a registrar '*£ electors for each Maori electoral district. This was lost on the voices, and the [whole clause agreed to unaltered. At clause 183, dealing with election petitions, Mr. Haselden moved a new sub-sec-tion to provide that if through the fault or mistake of the Government, or a Government official, a successful candidate is petitioned against, the latter shall not be required to pay the legal expenses incurred. _ , Several, members spoke in support of this 'proposal, which was carried on division iby 59 to'2o. At clause 185, which, defines the offence .hf " treating," Sir J. Ward moved an amendment to prohibit a candidate " treating'' an elector at any time between the date of nomination and the date of the ;j)oll. inclusive. This gave rise to considerable discussion. " Several members urged that the clause as it stood was sufficiently drastic in prohibiting "treating" on polling day, while others submitted that votes were influenced by "treating" days before _ the election, especially at afternoon teas. Eventually Sir J. Ward's amendment was lost •<m the voices, and the offence of "treating'' was limited to polling day in terms of the Bill as originally introduced. Mr. Haselden moved a new clause to make it an illegal offence for Ministers to interfere in a. campaign outside their own electorates. This was lost on the voices. The end of the Bill was reached at five minutes to eleven p.m.. and the committee then reverted to the postponed clause 114, regarding scrutineer*. Sir J. Ward said lie- would have a new clause submitted in the Legislative Council, and the clause was meanwhile agreed to. New clause 142 a, providing lor a- re- J count added bv the Statutes Revision Com- : mittee, was added to the Bill, together •with a new clause proposed by Sir J. Ward, setting out what action shall be taken in case of a member becoming ■ insane. , Sir" J Ward moved another new clause, providing for an appeal against the decision of the representation commissioners to two judges of the Supreme Court, who are empowered to make such alteration in the boundaries of the electorate as they .think considerable discussion the proposed clause was rejected on the voices. ' [Left sitting.]