PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1104, 1 November 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, October 31. In the House of Representatives today, Replying to questions, the Government gave the following information :—Telegrams were sent by the late Ministry on electioneering subjects as public telegrams, and if on examination the Government considered it would not be prejudicial to the public service, copies thereof would be produced. The Government concurred in the opinion of the late Government that it was inexpedient for the Agent-General to be a candidate for a seat in the British Parliament. The Agent-General had been requested to retire from the directorship of the New Zealand Agricultural Campany, and he would be expected to comply with that request within a reasonable time. The amount of loss to revenue during the last nine months was —Tea, 24,000 ; and sugar, L 61,000. Mr. Hall moved the second reading of the Qualification of Electors Bill.

Sir George Grey said the -Bill was complicated, and the language employed in it most obscure. It proposed increasing the powers of property, and the property qualification was such as to enable one man to exercise twenty votes, provided he was owner of property valued at L 25 in twenty different districts. It deprived Maoris of their electoral rights, whereas by the Constitution Act it was provided that Maoris and Europeans should be placed on an equal footing in that respect. He would insist on the manhood suffrage franchise. Colonel Trimble pointed out that by the Representation Bill before the House the returning officer could prevent anyone from recording more than one vote at a general election. Mr. Wakefield charged Sir Geo. Grey with haviug last session defeated an effort made to secure manhood suffrage, insisting that property should have its fair representation. Mr. Gisborne denounced the proposals to take away the Maori franchise until they were in possession of full information as to what was to take its place. Mr. Reader Wood advocated the principle of manhood suffrage. It was people and not property they were returned by, consequently the people should have the voice in their election. The residental clause was also reprobated. It made no provision "for men who were compelled to reside away from home for a few months, consequently they were liable to lose their electoral privileges. He would do away with the property qualification altogether, and have the residental claim modified. At the evening sitting the debate cn the Qualification of Electors Bill was still proceeding. Tawhaio warned the House that trouble would probably arise if the natives were deprived of their existing electoral rights. Mr. Hall, by way of explanation, stated that the Government did not prevent persons having votes in more than one district if possessing qualification, the clause in the Regulation of Elections Bill apparently preventing the exercise of more than one vote was a mistake. November 1. After a brief reply from Mr. Hall, the Qualification of Electors Bill was read a second time on the voices. The Registrar

tion of Electors, Regulation of Electj 0 Corrupt Practices Prevention, Electj" 8 ' Petitions, and Triennial Parliaments Bin' were also read a second time with ve little <Kscassioh~. ■> The House rose at 12.30.