PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 17468, 7 October 1913, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

THE HOUSE. (Per United Press Association.) ' AVELLINGTON. October 6. PLURAL VOTING, The House met at 7.30 p.m., and im- • mediately went into committee on local bills. On the Gisborne Plarbour Board Enabling Bill Mr H. G. 1011 (Christchurch South) objected to the attitude of the Local Bills Committee in including a clause in the bill providing for plural when that provision was not sought by the promoters of the bill. Mr G. V. Pearce (Patea) contended that the clause was necessary to protect those who would have to mortgage their property in order to raise money necessary for the carrying out of proposed works. . Already local bills had been promoted providing for the expenditure of-over a million pounds, and the committee felt that some brake power should be applied, hence the Sir-Joseph Ward said that the amendment made by the committee was In the Interests of the large landowners only. Under the bill as it now stood. 350 men would have greater voting power than mother thousand men. He objected to the autocratic attitude of the committee in including the clause unsolicited. The Hon. A. L. Herdman contended that it was' a function of the Local Bills Committee to amend bills if they thought they were contrary to the best interests . of the public generally. ! Mr W. D. S. Mac Donald (Bay of Plen'ty). who was in charge of the bill, said that the Gisborne Harbour Board received £6BOO annually, from endowment ’ lands and harbour dues, and It was anticipated tbat the interest and sinking fund would easily be maintained from that source. He moved to strike out that part of clause 12- _ providing for ]>lural voting. The amendment was carried by 27 .■votes to IS, and the bill was reported •s amended. The AVanganul Harbour District and Empowering Bill was considered ifi committee. A provision in this bill stipulating plural voting was negatived by 27 votes, to 20. The bill as amended was reported, and ;tb» House rose at 12.30 a.m.