GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9188, 16 September 1891, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, September 15.—The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. The Land Bill was further considered in Committee. Schedulos were amended in accordance with the amendments made by tho Council in the clauses of the bill. The bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. _ The Electoral Bill was further considered in Committee. Clause 14 was j amended so as to provide that persons having residential qualifications shall not be deemed to have left the district if only temporarily absent. —Clause 15: Claims to be signed, was amended, debarring mere < lectors from witnessing signatures, tho object being to prevent professional politicians from hawking declaration papers around for now votes on the eve of. an election. —Clause 46 was altered so as to prevent names being placed on rolls after a seat is declared vacant. —Clause 63 : " Seamen'B votes," was amended, making it peremptory for seamen to apply for electoral right within fourteen days of polling day.—'Clause 71, declaring a public holiday on polling day, was excised t>y 24 to 5. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m., and, on resuming at 7.30 p.m., The Electoral Bill was continued in Committee. The proposition by Mr Stewart to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors on polling days was lost by 17 to 10. The Public Trust Office Bill and Stamp Bill were read a second time. On the motion for the second reading of the Payment of Meinbo s Bill, Mr Millar moved the following amendment: —"That this Council is of opinion that the proposal to increase the payment of members of Parliament is inopportune, and not warranted by any chango in the financial position of the colony; the Council is, therefore, not willing to pass a measure which would include a provision. for increased payment to its own members. As, however, the House of Representatives has decided to make a larger provision for its members, the Council will not feel justified in ref ub ing to pass a bill for that purpose, if it is so desired, after re-conßideration." The debate was adjourned to the following day. Tho second reading of the Post Office Acts Amendment Bill was agreed to. The Council rose at midnight.