WEDNESDAY, 24Tn AUGUST. THE REPRESENTATION BILL

Otago Witness, Issue 1555, 27 August 1881, Page 13

WEDNESDAY, 24Tn AUGUST. THE REPRESENTATION BILL

Mr OLIVER proposed that the clause be postponed until the schedules were passed. ... The CHAIRMAN explained that all the clauses of the bill would have to pass before the schedules were con1 m" OLIVER said he proposed to strike out the words "91 electoral districts," in order to insert •' 86." The object was to have Bunedin and Wellington continued as one electoral district, instead of beir -••♦ «n into wards. • , Mr BASTINGS moved as a further amendment that the olause be altered so as to read " There shall be nine electoral districts corresponding with the Provincial Districts, and each elector therein shall have as many votes as there are members allotted to the Provincial District." The Hon. Mr HALL opposed the amendment. Mr SEDDON proposed another amendment— That the electoral districts remain as at present constiSlr GEORGE GREY moved, as a further amendment—" That the clause be made to read as/ollows :— •The number of European members for any one district shall bear to the whole number of European members as nearly as may be the proportion that any such district beara to the population of New ZeaThe House divided on Mr Seddon's amendment, which was negatived by 50 to 13. Mr Bastiafs 1 amendment was next discussed, after whichhe applied to have it withdrawn, and leave was granted. Mr Oliver's amendment was neit discussed. Question was put for retaining the words as printed —ayes, 40 ; noes, 17. Sir George Grey's amendment was next discussed. The House divided-ayes, 11 ; noes, 38. The clause passed as printed. The rempJ|fng clauses passed without com"in the absence of Mr Sheehan, Mr MOSS moved the ollowing new clause :— " Every man of the age of 21 years and upwards, having a leasehold estate in possession, situated within any electoral district conntituted under this Act, of the clear annual value of £10, held upon ft lease which at the time of registration shall have not less than three years to run, or having a leasehold of such value as aforesaid, which he has been in possession of for three years or upwards at the time of such registration, shall be entitled to be remastered under 'The Registration of Electors Act, 1879,' and to vote at the election of members of the House of Representatives, and this clause shall be read as part of ' The Qualification of Electors Act, 1877." The clause was read a second time. Mr LUNDON moved—" That ' three years ' be made •six months.' " , The Hon. Mr HALL said Government supported the principle of the clause. •Left sitting at 1.30 c.m.