PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5420, 10 August 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, August D. Tho Hon. tho Speaker took the chair at fcho usual hour. papers, &c. Some papers were laid ou the table, and various notices given. TRADE UNION BILL. The second reading of this Bill was moved by the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, who shortly explained that the Bill was founded on the English Act, with the exception of clauses 16, sil, 32, 33, and 34, referring to Friendly Societies. There was no oppostion to the motion, and the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Tuesday. DOG REGISTRATION BILL. The measure was referred to a select commnttee. WELLINGTON RESERVES ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Hou. Major RICHMOND gave notice that he would move that the time for the presentation of tho Select Committee’s report on tho Bill should be extended a fortnight. SELECT COMMITTEES. The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE gave notice that he would move that the standing orders should be amended so far as to allow nine instead of seven members being appointed on select committees. RETURNS. A short discussion took place relative to returns laid upon the table of tho other House, when the Hon. Colonel Whitmore pointed out that any particular returns could be had access to by hon. members, but to take copies would involve considerable expense. REPRINTING OP STATUTES RILL. The Reprinting of Statutes Bill was received from the other Chamber, read a drat time, and the second reading fixed for Tuesday next. The Council adjourned at 3.5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, August 9. Tho Speaker took the chair at 2 30 p.m. PETITIONS AND NOTICES. Several petitions were presented and notices given. INSPECTOR OF MINKS FOR SOUTH-WEST NELSON GOLDFIELDS. In answer to Mr. Reeves, The Hon. Mr. STOUT said the Government would consider the appointment of an inspector of mines for the Nelson south-west goldfields. A large expenditure would be necessitated if these appointments were made, and it must be remembered the whole of the goldfield revenue went to the counties. THE CHINESE QUESTION. Mr. REEVES asked, —If the Government intended to bring in a Bill this session to restrict the immigration of Chinese. It had been shadowed forth by the Premier that such a Bill was necessary, and he (Mr. Reeves) might state that there would next summer, there was reason to believe, be a large additional influx of Chinese to the colony. The Hon. Mr. STOUT pointed out that the House could not pass such a Bill without permission from Home. No doubt in California • the" Chinese question had assumed large proportions; but it it had not yet done so in New Zealand, and legislation was not absolutely required just now. . COUNTIES REVENUE. Mr. GIBBS asked the Colonial Treasurer, —l, If there has been paid to counties any proportion of the 20 per cent of the Land Fund, as provided by the Financial Arrangements Act of last session ; and, if so, if he will lay before this House a statement showing what counties have received it, and the amount in each case ? 2. What amount, if any, hits been paid to counties and road boards, under section 59 of the Land Act, by which one-third of the price of land disposed of under the deferred payment system should be banded over to such bodies; and if he will lay before this House a statement similar to that asked for in No. 1 ' The Hon. Mr. BALLANCE replied, stating the amounts, but was inaudible in the Press gallery. NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. The Hon. Mr. GISBORNE asked the Government, —1. Whether they will Introduce this session a Bill as requested by the Senate of the University of New Zealand in March, 3876, for the purpose of vesting in trustees—to be agreed upon by the Government and Senate—the lands reserved for promoting higher education in the provincial districts in which they are situate, and of enabling the same to be administered for the purpose for which they were reserved \ 2. \Vhat steps the Government have taken, or are prepared to take, for the definition of the undefined reserve of 10,000 acres in Taranaki set apart by section 30 of the University Act, 1874, for the purposes of higher education ; and for the definition of 4000 acres set apart by the University Reserves Act, 1875, in the provincial district of Wellington, for the same purpose ? 3. Whether the Government recognised the claims submitted to them by the Senate of the University of ,New Zealand for an equivalent educational endowment in place of the reserve of 20,0"0 acres set apart in the parish of Tahawai, in the district of Tauranga, by the . Resident. Minister at Auckland in or about June,: 1869, as a University endowment, and afterwards appropriated by the Government for another purpose; and, if the Government recognise that claim, how they propose that it should be satisfied ? The Hon. Mr. STOUT said the laud in Taranaki and Wellington had not and could not be defined now, and that at Tauranga had been refused by the Legislative Council, The Government would do nothing or promise anything until a commission had reported on the New Zealand University. r THE MINES ACT, 1877. Mr. MANjDERS , asked, the Minister of Land*v*-1. Whether any correspondence has taken place between the Government and the wardens as to the practical working of the Mines Act, 1877 ■ 2. Whether tho wardens have made any suggestions as to the working of the said Act f 3. If so, whether he has any objection to lay such correspondence and suggestions before this House, with a view of their being forwarded to the Goldfields Committee /or consideration ? The Hon. Mr. MACANDREW said the matter was dealt with in the wardens’ reports, which would be laid on the table. CHRISTCHURCH DRILL-SHED. Mr. MUKRAY-AYNSLEY asked the Minister for Public Works,—lf the Govern- . ment are aware that, by neglecting to give immediate attention to the repairs necessary to tho building erected by the Government, and used for the purpose of a drill-shed in Christchurch, they will subject the colony to a very large pecuniary loss ? The Hon. Mr. MACANDREW replied in the negative. FINANCIAL., Mr. GISBORNE asked the Colonial Treasurer,—(l.) What was the amount of outstanding liabilities, under contracts and engagements, due in the Public Works Account on the 30th June last? (2.) What was the amount of unredeemed advances on the £BOO,OOO guaranteed debentures on the 30fch June last ! The Hon. Mr. BALLANCE said the answer to the first query would be answered in the Public Works Statement when brought down. As to the other part of the question £BOO,OOO. LYTTELTON AND ADDINGTON GAOL. Mr, BOWEN asked the Minister of Justice, —Why the prison work in the gaols at Lyttelton and Addington baa been repeatedly stopped, foe want of material, daring the past year ; and whether such delays will be prevented for the future '{ ■ The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN said the delay had been attributed to the hon. gentleman’s administration. The whole question was about to be inquired into by the Government. A CLAIM ON THE TREASURY. Mr, GEORGE asked the Colonial Treasurer, —lf the. Government will place a sum of * money upon the supplementary Estimates, in .payment to Mr. R. C. Reid and Mr. W, Riley, both of Hokitika, for printing copies of the electoral roll for the years 1875 and 1876 ; such paymeiit having been recommended by - the Public Petitions Committee last session ? The Hon. Mr, BALLANCE said a sum would be placed on the Estimates to give effect to the report of the committee. PARCELS POST. Captain RUSSELL asked the PostmasterGeneral, —Whether any steps have been taken during the recess to carry out the promise made by the late Postmaster-General to endeavor to introduce a system of ** parcel post” between this colony, and England, similar to that, now being carried on under au arrangement between the Director-General of the Post Office of India and the directors of the Peninsula and Oriental Steam Shipping Company, between India and England ; and if not, whether ho will cause inquiries to be made as to tho possibility of establishing such a system? The Hon, Mr. FISHER said the matter had not been lost sight of. The system would - ■be^established in tho colony shortly, and would bo extended out of tbo colony as soon as possible. ,

jackson's bay. In reply to Mr. Bakst, the Government promised to lay on the table a return showing in detail tho manner in which funds had been expended on tho Jackson's Bay Settlement. T. J. JONES, OF KAUAMEA. Mr. BARFF asked, —If it is the intention of the Government to take any steps to cause inquiry to be made into tho claims of T. J. Jones, of Karamea, whose case was recommended to tho consideration of the Government by the Public Petitions Committee last session ? The Hon. Mr. MACANDREW replied in the negative. Mr. BARFF : The answer is not satisfactory, and I shall take further steps in the matter. INTERPRETATION BILL. This Bill was read a second time, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Stout. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS BILL. The Hon. Mr. STOUT said this Bill was intended to consolidate and apply to the. whole colony the law hitherto existing in various parts of the colony. Bill read a second time. FRAUDULENT DEBTORS BILL. This Bill was further considered in committee, and reported with slight amendments. It was recommitted for the purpose of considering a new clause making it compulsory on traders to keep books. - VI r. Barton made a strong speech against it There were many members of the Upper House who could no more keep books than they could keep St. Peter’s key of Heaven, and most of these men had risen from small' beginnings. [Mr. Fox : Gentlemen.] When the honorable gentleman can teach me to talk English I will speak as he wishes. Tho hon. member continued at some length in a rather virulent tone, hinting at partiality on the part of the Judges of the Supreme Court, which brought up Mr. Swanson, who said a man who talked such rubbish must have been in the habit of talking to juries of a very average intellect.—Mr. BARTON was sorry to hear the lion, gentleman insult juries.—Mr. Swanson said he bad not done so, aud proceeded to condemn such allusions as those of the hon. member for Wellington City in respect to tho Judges; He had always found the Judges honest and upright, though they had decided against him occasionally. Generally he defended creditors from the charges of severity brought by Mr. Barton, and said they were treated worse by the lawyers than by their debtors.—-After a long discussion the now clause was so modified as to give the Judge a discretion to suspend a certificate of discharge in case of no books having been kept. Progress was reported, and the Bill ordered to be recommitted on Tuesday. CIVIL SERVICE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion that the House go into committee on tin's Bill, A long discussion arose in reference to various points which had been made on the occasion c£ the second reading. The Bill was then committed, and progress was reported when the hour for dinner arrived. On the committee resuming at half-past seven o’clock, some further progress was made, when leave was given to the committee to sit again on Tuesday next. DEBTORS AND CREDITORS ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. When the order of the day was called on for the committal of this Bill, The Hon. Mr. STOUT stated that certain amendments had been proposed by the hon. member for the Wellington Country Districts. He had not bad time to consider these amendments, and he would therefore move that the other orders of the day be postponed in order that he might proceed to the second reading of tho Electoral Bill. The other orders of the day were postponed accordingly. ELECTORAL BILL. The Hon. Mr. STOUT, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said he felt an honor at having to move the second reading. It would be seen that it was a consolidating measure, and might be viewed in three aspects—First, the franchise it conferred ; second, the method of obtaining the right; and third, the mode of exercising that right. Under the present electoral law it was practically open to persons to get their names placed on the roll during three months in the year. It was proposed in this Bill to have practically two rolls made up during the year—one every six months. Greater facilities were afforded for persons to have their names placed on the roll. It was proposed to do away with a great deal of the expense that was now incurred, and to abolish revising officers and the custom of having the electoral roll published as an advertisement in the papers. A postal card would be sent to every person objected to, and it was thought that this plan would entirely suit its purpose. Vote’by ballot and the hoars of recording votes were extended from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. It was also proposed to make it illegal for candidates to employ conveyances to bring voters to the poll. It was also provided that public-houses should becloaedonelectiondays—qhear, hear) —as it was considered that instead of the occasion. being converted into one for the indulgence of intoxicating drinks, as was now frequently the case, it should bo looked upon as an occasion ou which men were called upon to properly exercise the greatest privilege they could possess—that of voting to send representatives to tho Parliament of the colony. The Government considered that in accordance with the Constitution representation should be settled on the basis of population; but if they now brought down a measure to give effect to this view, there would of course have to be a dissolution, and the people would not enjoy tho advantages which the new Bill would confer upon them. The elections would have to be conducted under the old roll, and no possible advantage could be reaped until the Bill which he now proposed to pass through its second reading had been in operation for at least a twelvemonth after the beginning of 1879. One of the principal results of this Bill would be to place on the roll two-thirds of those who had-a right to be there, but whose names were not on the roll under the present system. One of the arguments used against the extension of the franchise was, as had been said by hon. members, the creation of certain influences that could be bought and sold ; but he thought the Bribery Bill, the closing of public-houses, and the illegality of engaging conveyances to convey electors to the poll, would most effectually put a stop to the buying and selling to which an hon. member had referred. Ho (Mr. Stout) was not aware that they had any class in New Zealand who were not on the roll who were not as good, morally and intellectually, as those who were on the roll. Some hon. members declared that . if the franchise were extended they would admit all the loafers of the colony on the electoral roll ; but he would ask those hon, members to define who those loafers were, what- they did, and how they got their living., One of the main objects of having electoral machinery was to ascertain public opinion, but this public opinion could not be obtained by the adoption of Hare’s system of proportional representation, or personal representation. Instead of having a Parliament representing public opinion, by the adoption of that system they would have what had been called by an eminent statesman a museum of specialities, and not an assembly representing public opinion at all. When any great public question was discussed, it was not carried to any practical termination by every man giving his individual opinion. Take the temperance movement, for instance. When that movement was first commenced by small bodies fighting by themselves, it had no political force, nor was it instrumental in effecting any good. But when these various cliques and bodies united together they exercised a political force and did a great deal of good. If Hare’s system of representation were introduced in Now Zealand what would bo the result I They would have the banks returning members, the Good Templars returning members, the Licensed Victuallers returning members, the runholders returning members; they would have their Parliament composed of members representing various cliques and units, men with peculiar fancies and specialities who would be unable to face and deal with any broad political question when it was submitted for their consideration. Instead of having such an undesirable state of things in this colony, they ought to have a Parliament representing an aggregate of public opinion. If their object was to have such electoral machinery as would promote political education , and ensure a full aud complete representation of public opinion, that object could not be attained if they adopted Hare’s scheme of representation. Political education was leu times more secured by a hard-fought election than by the adoption of Hare’s system of electoral reform. An extension of the franchise was bound to force itaclf. It was urged by some people that an extension of the franchise was nothing short of a revolution. Ho did not believe that there could possibly exist a healthy state of things if half tho people in tho colony were not on the electoral roll, (Hear, hear.) This brought him to the question of residential franchise which this Bill proposed to confer. It must not bo taken for granted that all those who were at present off the roll wero renegades, liberals and radicate; there were plenty of conservatives who were not on the roll, aud if reliance wero to be

placed in the conclusions of Carlyle, conservatives were the most stupid people in the world. (Laughter). There was nothing to fear by the conservatives from ah extension of the franchise. If this Bill were in operation the only persons who would bo excluded would be the few immigrants who arrived in ship*, and had not become householders ; but be did not believe that 500 persons would be excluded from tho roll. Every young man born in the colony would have his name placed on the roll, as well as those who hail resided two years in the colony, ami the result would b 6; as he had said before, that no more than 500 persona altogether would be excluded from the electoral roll of the colony. He now came to the question extending the franchise to women. He did not intend to dwell on the rights of women ; but he must say he could not <’o the length* of the hon. member for Auckland City West (Dr. Wallis', and say that all present disabilities should bo removed in the case of women, that they should be placed on the electoral roll, and be eligible for election to that House. If they admitted women ns members of that House, New Zealand would be tile first country in the world to set the example. With regard to Maori representation, ho thought that under the present circumstances of the colon}', it would be advisable to adhere to the present special system of Maori representation, aud he thought also that steps ought to. be taken to increase the Maori representation in that House. (Cries of “Hear, hear,” and “ No, no"). If lion, members valued free institutions in this country, lie would ash them to discard .Hare’s system altogether, .because they would then liavo a House full of cliques without any cohesion, aud not such a body as could effect any reform. He begged new to move the second reading of the Bill. (Cheers). Mr. WHITAKER said he should have liked to have the Bill circulated which he had the honor to introduce. He naked tho clerk to have the Bill ready for circulation when the Bill introduced by the hou, the AttorneyGeneral came on for second reading, but a note had been sent up from the printer to the effect that it would not be ready for circulation until Tuesday next. Under these circumstances he would merely make a few observations ou the Bill introduced by the Attorney-General, reserving the right to refer more fully to it when he came to move the second reading of his own measure. With regard to the Bill brought in by the Attorney-General, he objected to what it did and what it did not do. It seemed to him to bo a measure made up by several minds ; it contained too many compromises, and was of far too timid a nature. It proposed to reduce the freehold franchise from £SO to £•25 ; then, again, the leaseholder was cut off, why he did not know. The Hon. Mr. STOUT—He is a ratepayer, Mr. WHITAKER—Not necessarily. Then with regard to the householders, the amount was £lO in the towns and £5 in the country under tho present system. The present Bill proposed to make it £lO all round. This, instead of extending the franchise, would have the effect of limiting it. In his opinion the qualification should be reduced to a residential one. (Hear, hear). The Attorney-General had stated that if his Bill became law there would not be 500 adults off the electoral roll. He (Mr. Whitaker) considered that all doubts ou the matter would bo removed if the qualification were made a residential one. Why, he would ask, should all adult young men have to reside two ye>rs iu tho colony before they could vote at elections ? He felt sorry that the ingenuity of the hon. the Attor-ney-General bad not suggested a less complicated and expensive system of registration than this Bill would give rise to. (Hear, hear.) As to the question of increased representation, he (Mr. Whitaker) considered that the question could never be placed on a sati-factory footing until the question of representation was left to adjust itself without the further interference of that House. With regard to Maori representation, lie considered that so long as the Maoris had a special system of representation for themselves, they should not interfere with the election of European members to that House. It the Maoris were to have a double vote, and wero allowed to vote in the election of European members, there was no reason whatever why the Europeans should not also have votes at the election of Maori representatives. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member (the Attorney-General) had made the qualification a residential one, giving it that name instead of “ manhood,” because it was more palatable ; but the provision as to the sign manual inferred that every elector must also know how to read and write, and that an educational tost was required as welt as a residential qualification. He begged to say that iu discussing this question he (Mr. Whitaker) desired to deal with it entirely without any party spirit or feeling—(hear, hear) andif they suceeded in placing the electoral law of the colony on a satisfactory footing, a great aud good work would be accomplished, and the present would be the most remarkable session that had ever taken place. There were many of the Government propositions which he would support. He trusted hou. members would throw aside all party considerations and endeavor to pass a satisfactory’ measure. It was in order that this desirable object might be attained that he would ask the Government to consent to the referring of the Bill to a select committee, not for the purpose of deciding whether it should be passed or rejected, but tor the purpose of collecting information, and, if possible, suggesting a better measure than that brought iu by the Government, or the Bill which he himself had introduced. He would therefore ask the Government to consent to allow their Bill to go to a select committee after the second reading. (Hear, hear, aud cheers). Mr. JOYCE considered that the present system of vote by ballot was to a very great extent a sham, in consequence of the voting papers being numbered. He could not express satisfaction with the Bill introduced by the Attorney-General. In his opinion, they shou'd have boldly proposed manhood suffrage. Manhood suffrage had been on its trial in the colony, and it had worked very well, because the system of miners’ rights was nothing, more nor less than manhood, suffrage. But if manhood suffrage were made general, then, they would have a perfect Bill, and they would do away with a great deal of the expense that was now incurred. Some allusion had been made to the extension of tho franchise to women, but lie thought they ought to keep that question entirely out of sight until they had manhood suffrage. In his opinion, they could not expect anything like short sessions of Parliament if they went so far as to render women eligible for seats in that House.

Mr. HE LA.UTOTJR raid th» hou. member for Wallace could not expect to have a perfect measure passed in one session. Such a thing was never known in any legislature in the world. Mr. Hare had drafted a Bill to give effect to his own proposals, but the most intelligent Parliamentary draftsmen could not understand it when it was submitted to them. If, therefore, Mr. Hare failed to frame a Bill to give effect to a scheme which he had so closely-considered, it. was not to be expected that the Hon. the Attorney-General could introduce a Bill that would give general satisfaction, and be in all respects a perfect piece of legislative machinery. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member for Waikato and the hon. member for Now Plymouth had every opportunity to bring down measures to place the electoral law of tho colony on a more generally satisfactory footing, but they had failed to take advantage of that opportunity. They had missed their chance, and now came forward to oppose the present Government when that Government had the manliness and honesty of purpose to take the subject in hand. The Bill brought in the other day by the hon. member for Waikato had no right, to be placed on an equal level with the Bill introduced by the Attorney • General. He thought that too much attention should not be paid to measures of reform that were iutroduced in the old country, the circumstances of the old country and the colony were so totally different; and if Haro’s system were introduced iu Now Zealand, who would take advantage under that system ? Certainly not those who would como out from the old country and go and settle on the land, but tho conservative tories of the colony. Xf*fmen looked carefully iinto the Haro system combined with mauhobd suffrage, they would Bird that it would not suit tho circumstances of the colony, aud that it was a system which had been rejected by every man in tho old country who had the slightest pretention to a particle of Liberal statemanship. lie hoped the Ilouse would give the present Government measure a cordial support. If the proposals embodied in the Bill brought in by the hou. member for Waikato were given effect to, the result woidd bo that tho, representation would be placed entirely in the hands of men who had made their mark—such as the hon. member for Waikato, tho hon. member for New Plymouth, and others, and the young men of tho colony would bo kept ; back. A greater curse than this could not fall on any country. This was tho most fatal objection to tho alteration in tho system which _ was proposed by tho hou. member for Waikato.

They had no longer Brovincial Councils as nurseries for the young men of the colony, and the result would be that that they would receive no attention when they rose to address that House. Representation would therefore be entirely in tho hands of those who had made a name. The introduction of Hare’s system was not suitable to the requirements of a young colony like New Zealand ; it would neither purify legislation nor tend to advance the prosperity and well-being of the colony. He hoped, therefore, that the House wquld support the Bill brought in by the Government. (Cheers.) ...

Mr. WASON strongly supported taken by the hon, member for Waikatdft’aud condemned the speeches of the hon. the Attor-ney-General and the hon. member for Afouat Ida as raising a class cry against the propertyholders in charging them with ultra-conserva-tism.' The present Government cameCtinto office on the shoulders of the conservatives. Discussing the residential clause, he considered that the claims of women for votes conljlTnot be resisted, «ven on the arguments adduced in favor of women. Women were reallyo;the educative influence in the world of the working classes. While the men were out at their toil the women at homo were scheming every day to do that which tho Colonial-Treasurer tried to do once a year—make hotli ends meet; and' it was these individuals who should have political power. He condemned the further enfranchisement of the Maoris -.as Vbeiug destructive of ; the rights; of the Europeans, and negativing.the professions of the Government that both races should bo placed, upon an equal • footing The abolition of the miner’s right vote was acceptable to, him. ~ : • Mr.-WAKEFIELD was not surprised that the Premier had placed tho Bill in the hands of the Attorney*General, because it was not his Bill at all. The Premier’s Bill had been before the country for months, and it in no respect resembled the Bill now before the House. The Premier had placed in the front of his policy a principle which the country warmly adopted, but which was absent from tho Bill, viz., that every freeman should have a vote, and that no man should have any more votes than another. (Hear, hear.) In this Bill the rich man’s interest was paramount to the poor man’s right, and the property-holder had more votes than the poor man. Per months the Government had endeavored ; to terrify tho people by threatening manhood suffrage, and now they endeavored to appease the House by their moderation ; but they had not terrified him by their threats, or satisfied him by their moderation. He was in favor of pure manhood suffrage, and should propose a clause in committee to' 1 bring this about, in which ha hoped the House would support him. Under this 35111 there were districts in which absentee electors outnumbered the whole of the’ adult population, and could carry elections against the residents. (Mr. Stout : No.) It was so, and if the lion, gentleman was sincere he would have introduced a clause preventing any man having more votes than one in the colony. He should endeavor to have that principle introduced, and should claim the Premier’s vote. The practice of carrying elections by absentee electors had been introduced into the colon}', and was to be perpetuated by this Bill. Under it candidates who did not represent the opinions of a constituency would carry the election in the teeth of the wishes of the people. It, was not fair of the Government to take this course after the professions which had been thundered forth from every public platform in the country during the recess. This failure to keep faith with promises induced a feeling of distrust in the whole of the Government measures. If the Government consented to amend their Bill in this direction he should support them. Mr. MOSS said the limits to the suffrage proposed by this Bill got over the difficulty that would have arisen in respect to the Maori enfranchisement. He regarded the Bill of the hon. member for Waikato as a .red herring drawn across the scent. If the Government measure did not meet the views of the House, let it be amended in committee. As to its complicated character, simplicity could not be regarded as an indication, of progress, for in the most savage country simplicity was at its height. Then,, again, in America there was no registration. That was simplicity, but that simplicity was regarded ! by thoughtful Americans as the great blot upon their- system. He quite approved of the residential saving clause, and said as a democrat he was strongly in favor of a safeguard against abuses jwhich might degrade democracy were universaßsuf£ra.;e inaugurated. Replying to the hon. member for Geraldine, he admitted that the Bill was not the Bill of the Premier ; bnt v ’it was the BilUof the Government, a£id "representative of the feeling of the country. In further remarks he said the democratic party in this country were the conservatives, the party who wished to guard the Constitution, while the so-called conservatives were those who for twenty years bad set themselves to work to undermine, the Constitution and destroy the institutions of the country, which had worked well and satisfied the wants of the people. He. hoped the representation question would be dealt with at once, even if the new system was uot : brought into oj>erafciou till the, next general eldctiou. He did not approve of .Hare’s system of election, because it would kill the political life of the country, and instead of parties there would be a large number of cliques. Still he thought the system could be applied to local government, and would be opposed to its adoption iu that respect. Sic GEORGE GREY moved the adjournment of the debate till next sitting day. Agreed to. The House at 11.10 adjourned till Tuesday at the usual hour.