HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Southland Times, Issue 9693, 6 December 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Dec. 5. The House met at 2.30 p.ra. Tho Slaughterhouses Act Amendment Bill was received from the Legislative Council and read a first time. Major Alkinsou moved the second reading of the Representation Aot Amendment Biil to reduce tho number of members to 70 including three Maori members. Hi' said ho should reserve his remarks on the bill till ho replied to the arguments brought against it as the principle of it had beon fully discussed last year. Mr Taiwhanga opposed the bill as it would do away svith one Maori momber. Sir J. Yogel iaid that wiiilo he recognised that a large cumber of tbe constituencies had demanded a reductiou of members he still thought the passing of a bill of thig kind would cau^e intense dissatisfaction, especially in couutry districts. Mr Downie Stewart supported the bill. Mr Carroll opposed it, and &aid the Honso should either do away wiih special Maori representation altogether or they should not reduce the number of Maori members. Mr S^ddoo said his heart sank withiu him wben be saw how little noiice was tuken of tlie Premier's short pithy speech in introducing this bill. Ho strongly opposed tbis measure as being calculated to do immense injustice to the colony,and he appealed to Sir G. Grey to come for ward, and by his eloquence endeavour to btop the bill. He moved tbat further consideration of the bill be postpoued till tbe financial measures of the Government are dealt with. Mr Samuel seconded the amendtnont. He condemned the bill as a proposal to place legislation in the hauds of a few and because it would confer a great injury on weaker classes. The bill would also facilitate log-rolling in every direction and there would ba nothing but dissatisfaction all over the colony. Sir G. Grey opposed the bill and eaid it could very well stand over till next sessiou, especially as the Premier had stated that none but financial questions were to be dealt with this session. Mr Fisher said that if the bill did not pass this sessiou it wouid not be passed during the present Parliament as it was a disadvantage of trienoial Parliaments thai such large measures of reform could n<> be passed except they were brought down during tbe first session. He denied that the bill would cause any dissatisfaction. Mr Scobie McKenzie opposed the bill, and said tbey were asked to go back oo their whole history to make a change which would efiect no Baying at all. Mr Fergus said the one unanswerable argument in favour of the bill was that it was passed in tho last Parliament, and it was only by a piece of political jugglery, tbat the number was restored to its old status. gHe alao pointed out that the country would emphatically declare in favour of a reduction of the number of members. Messrs W. P. Reeves, Taylor, and Hodgkinson supported the bill, and Messrs Kerr and Marchant opposed it. Debate interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. Evening Sitting. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Hobbs objected to the reduction of the Maori representation, but would support the second reading, and move in committee that the Maori members be not reduced. Mr Menteath thought tbat if the bill were accompanied by local Government bills it would benefit the colony. He would support the second reading, but ehould prefer the bill being postponed until the Government brought down tho whole of their policy next session. Mr Fraser supported the bill, and advised the Government to push it through all its stages. As to Maori representation, be would prefer to see it abolished. Mr Pyke spoke in opposition to the bill. Mr Allen thought that New Zealand, as compared witb any other country in the world, was vastly overgoverned, and sup- ■ ported the bill. Mr Levestam would not object to tbe reduction of country members provided i town representation was also reduced. j Mr Bruce supported the bill, though b© j regretted that tho Government had not ! thought it advisable to give -seamen reI pteaentfttioo.

Mr McKenzie (Clutha) said if the Government bad simply asked the House to affirm the principle of a reduction he would. have supported the bill with greater freedom than be now did. The bill, he thongbt, should provide for tho amalgamation of city electorates and an alteration of tho franchise. If this were done it wonld be an immense benefit to the colony. Mr Buxton opposed 'tho bill as coantry districts would practically be disfranchised. The reduction of the honorarium would, he thought, play into the hands of the moneyed class and adversely to th© working men. If the reduction of m ambers were carried the honorarium shonld be increased lo L3OO. Mr Barron hoped the bill wonld pass in its present form as he saw little to object to even in the details. Mr O'Callaghan did not think there were too many members in the House but while he could not support the drastic reduction proposed by the Government be would be quite willing to support a reduction in the number of members to 84. Mr Buchanan hailed the bill with the greatest pleasure and regretted that the reduction had not beeu made last session. Mr Turnbull opposed the bill, as, by the time it was to come into operation, there possibly would be no necessity fer it. Mr Steward (Waimate) supported tbe second reading but much regretted that the bill had been brought forward in this exceptional session, as there was so little time to be spared. There was no justification of Ministers for bringing down the measure this session. Mr Q-oldie said bo was pledged to Bapport the bill and be would oveago further than proposed by the Government and reduce tbe number of members to fifty and in Committee would move that the number be fifty. Mr Cuiman supported the bill and Baid be would move in Committee for repealing; the Maori Representation Act and then leave the Government to deal with the question as to whether it was advisable to place the natives on tbe Bame footing as Europeans. Mr Blake intended to vote for the second reading iv order to affirm the principle of reducing the number of members-. Mr Beathiiin spoke in support of the eaoond reading but mentioned that unless the country were given a greater margin than proposed in tbe bill he might possibly vote against the third reading. Mr Reeves (laungahua) intended to give his vote for the second reading but wonld be glad to see Ifproposed that the bill do not take effect until after the next census is taken. Mr Moss would vote for the second reaiiug as he had alwuys maintained that the number of members should be reduced. He would like to see an amendment moved on tbe motion for tbe third reading that the bill go no further until the Government bring down a thorough policy of local government. Tne motion for the escond reading waß carried on the voices, and Mr Beddon's motion iost. Mr Seddon gave notice to move on the committal of the bill that it is undesirable to proceed further with the measure until somo legislation in the direction of local self government was introduced by the Government. The House adjourned at 12.30 a.m.