HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8555, 25 July 1889, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, July 23. the eepbesentation bill. At a few minutes past 2 a.m., Mr STEWARD reported that the chief of the " Hansard" staff had informed that the reporters could not report the proceedings in j full, and j Mr FISH appealed to the Premier under such circumstances to adjourn the debute. The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON declined on the ground that there had been stonewalling. After some discussion, Mr MACARTHUR moved that strangers be ordered to withdraw from the galleries.— Carried by 34 to 19 at 2.30. Mr Barron's amendment was negatived by 34 to 12, and the second reading was then carried by | 33 to 12. Tho following is the division list: — Arss. (33)— Messrs Anderson (teller), Atkinson, Bruce (teller), Buxton, Cadman, Carroll, Dodson, j Duncan, Frasor, Graham, Grimmond, Guinness, Harkneus, Hislop, Hobbs. Lance. Lawry. Marchant, M'Gregor, J M'Kenrie, Miteheleon, Moat, Monk, Parsta, Khodes. G;F Hichardaon. Hussell, Seddon, S.randera, Seymour, Stewart, X Thompson, Walker, Nobs (13).-Messrs Barron, Blake, Feldwlck (teller), Fisher. Fish (teller), Fitchett, Humphreys, Mobs, Newman, Perceval, Taylor, T Thompson. Pairs.- -For: Messrs Cowan, Samuel, Hodgkinson, Pyke, Mills, M Mackenzie; Valentine, Ward, Wilson, Smith, Fitzherbert, R Keeves, Verrall, X Hichftrdson, Fulton, Fergus. Against: Messrs Joyce, Menteath, W D Stewart, Jones, Boss, Taiwhanga, .Talhua, toughrey, Allen, Goldie, Withy,'Larnach, Grey.lW P Keeves, Turobull, Ballance. The Hon.-Sir H. A. ATKINSON moved that the bill be committed on next sitting day.— Carried by 32 to 12. The House rose at 4 a.m. till 7 30. , Evening Sitting. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. THE EEEKESENTAT lON BILL. The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON moved that the Speaker leave the chair, in order that the House go into committee on the Representation Bill. Mr MOSS asked tho Premier to delay the > committal of the bill for a few days. Was it the intention of the Premier to Tforce this bill through ? The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON said he had no intention of forcing the bill through unless undue resistance was offered to the measure, and there should be a .repetition of the tactics j used last nighty If that were done it would be I his duty to rush the bill through as quicisly as possible. Mr MOSS replied that for himself and those with whom he was workiog, they would promise not to discuss the bill at all at the present stage. They would agree to tho bill going into committee without a word if the Premier would postpone the bill for a few days. The Hoo. Sir H. A. ATKINSON said he was nnder a pledge to hon. members to dispose of this question of representation before going ou with other business.

Mr MOSS offered to release tbe Premier from this pk'dge. Mr Moss then went on to .speak to tbe bill. His chief objection to it was that enormous power would be given under it to the commissioners. Ho then went on to criticise the present system of election generally. Referring again to the bill itself, he regretted the Government had made such an attempt to throw discord between town and country. It •sas layiug the seeds of bitter feeling between town and country, which must increase as time went on. If members would properly study the bill, they would throw it aside as a nauseous thing, utterly devoid of any good principle. If time were giveu for reflection, he felt sure the bill would be kicked out of the House as altogether too iniquitous a measure; and if he bad the power he would talk fer a month if he thought, it would do any good.

He IZARD said the Premier, who generally | treated the Houso fairly, appeared to bo under some malign influence at present. The influence of partj was stronger than his own. Those who were opposed to the bill had not been treated fairly, and the request for a postponement of the measure for the present might have been agreed to. He would be no party to obstruction of any kind. He felt if the country had tims to consider the question, it would be found that smaller towns would condemn its provisions. The bi}l was being pressed on in Ihe interests of one party, and the members of that party, with the exception of .the Premier and Mr Bruce, had not advanced a single argument in favour of the bill. No time was giveu for public meetings of colonists in the country to consider the bill, and no time was given to prepare petitions to Parliament against the bill if they desired. The evil effects of this measure would be felt for years in a feeling of hostility between town and country. Sir 6. GREY drew attention to what he considered a breach of privilege. An officer of the House had given him a paper which asked him to give a secret vote on the desirableness of increasing the number of members. The paper referred to was in the shape of a ballot paper, and he was asked to vote " aye" or " no" and deposit this paper in one of the offices of the House. He considered this was an insult to the House and to him. The SPEAKER ruled that Sir G. Grey could not interfere with the debate on the present question, and in his opinion no breach of privilege had been committed.

Sir G. GREY then addressed himself to the provisiona of the bill before the House. He believed the bill would reduce the. people of the colony to a condition lower than that of the people in any other colony. He complained that tbe Government intended to force the measure through before the people of the country were allowed to know what was taking place, before they had time to eoHsider the question properly, and to read the speeches of members, and, if they desired, take stops to make their views known to members. If the people of the colony would only raise their voices, they might stop this hurried movement and prevent a great wrong being done. Tbo Hon. J. BALLANCE said that but for the reduction of members the present bill would never have been brought down. He tooi upon himself the 3ole responsibility of issuing the ballot paper to which Sir G. Grey had referred in connection with the proposal to increase the number of members to 91. His idea was simply to obtain the abstract opinion of the House on the question. He contended that the views of the country on the subject of the reduction of members had undergone a change, and it was his desire to ascertain the Tiews of members of the Honse on the subject. No step of tha kind had been contemplated until yesterday. Several adjournments were made with a view to a compromise being effected. On the House resuming at 11.30, The SPEAKER put the question of going into committee, upon which Mr REEVES (St. Albaus) rose and uttered his earnest protest against the bill now before tho House as being oue of the grossest injustice towards towns. His opinion was that neither the Premier nor the C Jonial Secretary understood the bill when it was first brought down, as neither of them had given any satisfactory explanation of it. Referring to Mr Bruce's speeoh of tho previous night, he thought it was thn weakest that hon. gentleman had over delivered in the House, snd he was exceedingly disappointed with the matter of that speech, especially coming from a gentleman who was usually clear and logical. ' ' * The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON asked permission to make a statement. He said town members had announced they were williDg to have 25 per cent, inserted in the bill, as in the bill of 1887. The oountry members, who were about two-thirds of the Hous6«had stated they wanted to receive 33J per cent. The Government had carefully considered the matter between the two parties, and they had come to the conclusion to insert the 25 per cent, of If 87 instead of 18, as at present, and he hoped this declaration would be recognised br fair and reasounble by both sides of the House. He again wished to state that the Government were prepared to carry 25 per cent., and they would accept neither more or less than that amount. Ho hoped, therefore, that the bid would be allowed to go into committee without further delay, so that the matter could be fought out.

Mr FISH asked whether the Premier would I allow an adjournment after the bill got into committee.

The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON said he could not agree to that, as the bill had been well threshed out already, and there was nothing to be gained by further delay. Mr BAREON said the basis of the act of 1887 upon which town members proposed to give the country an increase of 25 per cent, was very different to that of the present bill under which the Government gave 25 per cent., which was really 33J per cent. j Mr W. P. REEVES then resumed his remarks, and spoke at some length against the bill, He contended there could be no fair representation of towns wheu they were deprived of a fourth of their population, and he was surprised at such a course being advocated by the member for Raugitikci. After speaking i at sonio length, ho concluded by stating that the bill was unfair to town members in eveiy I respect. Mr VERRALL supported the bill. Mr FISH again protested against the passim: of this measure, and complained of the galleries being cleared on the previous evening while he was debating the bill. He continued speaking ! at great length on the measure, the bell being frequently rung for a quorum. On Mr M'GREGOR'S motion, tho galleries were ordered to be cleared. (Left sitting at 2 a.m.)