EVENING SITTING.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3469, 12 November 1879, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House re-assembled at 7.30. The Qualification of Electors Bill was resumed in Cpmmittee, and the following amendment by Mr Seddon was made on Section 2:—"Aboriginal Natives inhabitants of New Zealand, including halfcastes being males, and of the full age of 21 years, who shall be owners of land for which Crown grants havo been issued to the value of £25 and upwards, and are not registered in respeot of qualification under the Maori Representation Aot, or otherwise legally incapacitated." Mr Murray moved a further amend" ment that "every male Maori of the ago of 21 years and upwards whose name is enrolled upon the ratepayers' roll in foroe within the electoral district in respect of which he claims to vote, is entitled to be registered as an elector and to vote at elections for members for such districts for the House of Representatives, but no such Maorishallbe entitled tobe registered as an elector, or to vote at any such election in respect of any qualification under tho Aot.

Mr Moss moved, as a further amendment, to the following effect: "That aboriginals, including half-castes and male descendants of half-castes, shall not be deprived of any new rights under this, nor shall they be deprived of any new rights they had at the beginning of the present session'of Parliament." Ho said they had been told over and over again that it was not intended to deprive the native race of any rights they now hold, and he thought the amendment now proposed was the shortest way of expressing that purpose.

Mr Macandhew spoke in favour of the amendment by Mr Moss. He -felt convinced that, as things now stooi, the discussion would go on for days, and after all jt would just come baok to what was arrived at in this amendment.

The amendment tabled by Mr Seddon was_ withdrawn, and the clause subsection 2 of clause 2 passed. . Sub-section 3 was put and carried with slight amendments; sub-section 4 was withdrawn, and in lieu thereof it was proposed to substitute an amendment proproposed by Mr Murray.-Mr Murray's amendment was carried on a division by 29 to 19. _ >ub seotion 5 was then put, that no alien nor person attainted or con* vioted of any treason, felony, or infamous offence, within any part of Her Majesty's dominions, unless he shall have received a free pardon, shall ba entHed to be registered, The amendment was moved to add the words after pardon "or shall have undergone sentence for the same." On a division the amendment was aarriod, the ayes being 26, the noes 22. Olauoe 3, that every man registered as an eleotor, but no other person, is qualified to be elected a member for any electoral district in the colony, was then put. Mr Seddon moved as an addition to the clause, "if the holders of miners right.' The amendment was then put and lost. The olause with some technical amend* ments was then put and carried. Clause 4 and 5 as printed were put and carried. he following were added as additional clauses The word " Maori" in this Aot means aboriginal native inhabitant of New Zealand, and includes any half-caste living as a member of a native tribe according to their customs and usages, hnd any descendant of such half-caste by a Maori woman Nothing in this Act contained shall affeot any right or privilege con> ferred upun or printed to Maoris under " The Maori Eepresentation Aot, 1867," or any Act amending or continuing the same.

Progress was then reported, and the House adjourned at 12.35.