EVENING SITTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10415, 18 July 1895, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30. . - WOMEN IN FAEtIAMENT.

Dr NEWMAN moved the second reading of the-Admission of Women to Parliament Bill, to admit women to the General Assembly of New Zealand; He said the bill was exactly the same as that of last year, with tbe exception of the title. Siuca last year the bill had been before the country and had met with, geueral favour. It seemed to him extraordinary that this Hbuso, which was elected by women, shonld refuse women a privilege which was granted them by a previous ■■ Parliament elected by men. He instanced ca?es of several countries where this privilege was granted, aud said ia the / Parliament of Colorado three wonMi occupied seats, and the Parliament of Scutu Australia had cpsned its doors to w>raen. He saw no reason why they should not occupy seats in Parliament as well aa ou school ctMnmittess, education boards, and other bodies. ' Mr CARNCROSS seconded the motion, a3 he looked on it bs the logical sequence of giving womeu votes for parliamentary elections. Mr T. MACKENZIE opposed tfce bill as a perfectly ridiculous measure. He did not think the floor of the House was the proper plase for women. They now possessed the li-ABchise and could elect representatives of : tht.ir choice. | Mr WILLIS ftupported tba bill, aud saw no t ret-.son why women should not- sit in Parlia- | raant. ■"''■■■ ' The Hon. W. J. STEWARD supported the j bill cv the ground that if the people chose to I elect a lsvdy there was n& reason why they ! shuul'i cot do so. Parliament having allowed i all adult electors to vote irrespective of sex, it i logically followed ; that they should allow women to huve seats in Parliament. Their debates might be improved if women were present. _______^_

Mr THOMPSON regarded the bill ia the light of an attempt to gain ft litt'.w popula.ri!;y. The women of ih". eoluny did not desira this bill. MrPUTHIEdid not regard Colorado as » good cass in point, as it wa? nob a very lawabiding place. Tbw bill was a good election cry, but he hoped the good esdss of the House ■would reject it. Mr MAStIN opposed the bill, and ffit H ALL-JONES supported ifc. Mr M'LACHLAN could not support the bill, and did uot tbink women wanted it. . Mr EARJSSHAW opposed the bill, and said the conditions of Colorado were entirely different frstri New Zealand. No argument had been shown ok a'ii why women ehould occupy seats ia the House. Major Harris, Messrs Graham, Hogg, Tanner, Colliag, and R. M'Kenzie opposed the bill, and Messrs Fktmaa, G. J. Smith, and B. M. Smith supported it. : | The motion was lost by 35 to 26. The following is the division list: — Ayes (26).—Messrs Buiek, Carneross, Camell, Carroll, Duncan, Flatman, Hall-Jones, Joyce; J. "W. Kdly, W. Kelly. Lang, Lawry, Jffi'JJab, Milsar. Morrison, Newman, Pirani, Reeves; 6. W. Russell, a J. Smith 15. M." Smith, Steward, btoufc, Taniier, Te Ao, Willis. Noes «3o). — Messrs Allen, Buchanan, Buddo, Button, Cadman, Collins Orowther, imthie, liarn-haw, W. Hutchison, Mackintosh, Masliti, Massey Urabaro, Green, Guinness, Hall. Harris. Hogg, M'Gowan, X M'Kenzie, R. M'Kenzie, M Lachlan, Meredith, Mills. Mitchelson 0 Regan, Parata, Pinkerton, W. R. Russell. , Saumiers, Stevens, Thompson, Werd. Wilson, i Pairs.—Aye: Hone Heke. No : Eraser.

THE REFBHENDDM. .Mr O'REGAN moved the second reading of the Rerercadum Bill, to refer to the electors rrt the colony1 certain" motiang and bills for their decision. He had not. intended to bring iv tbo bill this session, but a good many members urged him ■to introduce it again this session. Since last session tas bill had received great support; and it was now in the /forefront of the yonservative programme, in England. That was an argument with some members to oppose the bill, but it proved to him that the measure must be a popular'one when the Tory party adopted it. He held that the Bouree of all political power must be the people, and, therefore, there could be no objection to referring great political questions to the people, which was the- object of the bill. It was, in his opinion, only fair that the people of the colony should have the right of vetoing legislation if they thought it necessary to do bo The bill was essentially a Liberal measure, and should not be opposed by anyone^ calling himself a Democrat.

Mr SAUNDERS said the bill seemed to him one of the most important mrasnres brought in this session, and he regretted that Ministers did nob lead the; House'1 on questions of this kind. The bill appeared to him ' desirable on several grounds. The way in which "questions between tha two Houses were now settled only gave.Ministers.an.Ministers'.an opportunity of appointing several additional. members to the Legislative Council, which was not a very desirable way. They were told they should not copy Switzerland, but he held that country was well worthy, of copying; as her Constitution had been framed by three of the most eminent men in the. worid. I' Her Constitution was chosen in 1848, and had worked admirably ever sines. It would be well for this colony if it pb^-sesaed such a Constitution as Swi<zerlaad. This, bill merely provided foe the settlement by the people of disputes between the two Houses, and he hoped to see it pas 3. . ;

Me M'GOWAN opposed the bill. He held that when people took-the law into their own hands it became Lynch law. TheyI.now had the voice of the people, ss Parliament wa3 a reflex of t.he people of the colony. Mr MERSDITH supported the measure. If this bill were in the hands of a Mioistar ifc would pass its Eocond res-ding with flying colours. He believed it 3 principle was endorsed by a majority' of the people of the colony.

The Hon. Mr SEDDON had no strong feelings on thiß msasare, but the other day at a deputation he was publicly informed that the passage of this bill meant tia abolition of the Legislative Council, and Mr O'Segan admitted it. He held, therefore, that if it were to go to the country that the bill would have that effect the country should know it. It would in his opinion be very unwise to refer such questions to the people as that of an elective Governor, when probably -the deoision of the people might be detrimental to the best interests of the country. They had the best safeguards now, and the electoral laws should be made ao liberal as possible. ' He thought the, country was not ripa for such a great change as would be involved in the passing of this bill. He had every confidence in the people, but he hsd seen on the goldfieids a time of great excitement when men would sweep everything before them, and a few days afterwards would greatly r.egret their action. In this case, hoivevtjr, the decision of the people would be placed on the, Statute Book^ which was ' a different thing. He thought it right to let members know that a deputation represented to him that the passing of the bill meant the abolition of the Legislative Council.

; Mr' G. y?. RUSSELL thought the Premier should nob allow a deputation of that kind to influence him on such a great question. At the i earns time he complimented the Premier for ' the calm manner in which he had approached the subject. He would like to ask those who opposed the referendum" whether they thought the present form of government was so perfect as to Bay we had approached flaality. He did not think so, and he regarded the bill,as "an effarfc to ascertain the will'of'.the people*. He supported the'bill because it provided that the voice of the people should be more dearly heard on gce&t questions than at prese&t.. Thesecond reading wag carried by 28 fco' 14^, The House rose at 12.35. ' -: • •;