EVENING SITTING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4407, 13 July 1901, Page 7

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed in committee at 7.30 p.m; The Referendum Bill. Mr Millars amendment to strike out sub-section 1 of clause 4 was withdrawn, the Ptemier intimating that the clause would be altered so as to meet Mr Alillar’s views. ■ , The PREMIER thereupon moved an amendment to insert the word “Government” before “Bill” m sub-section 1 of clause 4, so as to provide that only a Government Bill which had been rejected, should be submitted to the Referendum; Tins was carried by 41 votes to 6. Further words were then duded. to th* sub-section to provide that, such a Bill should be one introduced by Message frbtri his Excellency the Governor. Mr JAAIES ALLEN then moved, an amendment to insert certain Words! m sub-section 3 of clause 4 to provide that if any resolution were twice passed by fine House and twice rejected- by the other, in favour of any legislative proposal being submitted to the Referendum, then such proposal should be so submitted. This Was) lost by 34 votes to 15. Another sub-Sectibn was added to clause 4; providing that,any Bill twice passed by the House of Representatives and twice rejected by the Legislative Cpuhcil should; if a resolution to that effect be passed by the House, be submitted to th© Referendum. Mr ELL moved an addition to clause 4 enabling 5 per cent of the electors to demand by petition a Referendum on any given question. The PREMIER opposed this, arid said that Air Ell was unreasonable. The amendment was lost by 40 votes to 0. Clause 4 was then added to the Bill. Clause 7 was amended so that the time within which the Referendum poll may be taken was extended to ninety days after the close of the session. There was considerable discussion, as to whether the votes should he taken at the time of a general election. The PREMIER did not think that the electors WOUld be confused if they were called upon to vote on the three questions on the one day—the candidate for Parliament, the liquor and the question submitted to .the Referendum. In America they_ voted upon a large number of questions, arid he believed that the people of New Zealand were as intelligent as those of America. Air PIRANI suggested that the Referendum vote should be taken through the post. Finally the 'clause was amended SO' that the Referendum may be taken at the close of a session; but if a general election occurs after a session the Referendum shall he taken on the day of the ejectionAir PIRANI moved to amend-clause 8 so that the Referendum should he taken through the post. The PREAIIER said that such a system would admit of coercion in every form. He would not agree to anything

that would interfere with the ballot. The discussion on the question was interrupted at 10.30 p.m. Third Reading. The Cemetery Trustees Validation Bill was read a third time and passed. The House adjourned till 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday,