HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11734, 12 September 1902, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

ELECTORAL ACT. The House anet at 2.30. The House resumed in committee on the Electoral Act, amd: Mr. EH"s amendment to clause 6, that a 28 per cent, quota shall not be added! to .the population in any area within five miles of post offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin. The "amendment was carried by 34 to 29.

Mr. B. MoKenzie moved an amendment to the «lause of reducing the quota from 1250 to 250, which was lost on the voices. A further amendment to reduce the quota to 550 was carried' by 32 to 29. Sir' William Russell moved that the Commissioner, in making any addition to or deduction from the population, shall diminish the area of the country, rather than submit on constituencies. This was carried. . At clause 14, sub-clause 5, Mr. E. Gallen moved to exempt from disqualification members of the House of Representatives acting as Royal Commissioners, who shall be .paid 20s. per day travelling expenses, exclusive of fares.—Lost by 48 toi 8. At clause 21, "How vacancies may occur," sub-clause 5 was altered, disqualifying persons from a seat in the House if convicted of any crime punishable by two, instead cf five, years' imprisonment. Sir. Tanner purposed a new clause disqualifying a person found guilty of coi^rupt practice from having his name placed on the 101 l during1 the "period for which the disqualification extends. This was lost by 37 to 17. The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. THE ELECTORAL BILL. The House resumed in committee on tre Electoral Bill.

At clausie 66, dealing with a supplementary roll, Mr. Maasey moved to add a proviso that a list of ail claims for enrolment accepted by the Registrar after the printing of the main roll shall be open to inspection by the public. Mr. Pirani urged; that the system adopted in Wellington, which had proved a great success, should be adopted throughout the colony. The amendment wasi lost by 35 to' 26. In reply to Mr. Fisher, Sir Joseph Ward, said the difficulty regarding the en-' nolmepit of members of the'theatrical profession was that they were never long enough in any one place to qualify them, as electors, but he would insert at the end of the Bill a provision to meet such, casies. At clause 79, Mr. J. Allen moved an amendment, the effect of which would be to give electors' rights to all, instead of confirming! such electors' rights to seamen, and commercial travellers. Sir Joseph Ward opposed the amendment, contending that under it there would be no safety or secrecy. It would lead to impersonation, and would require tho alteration of the whole electoral laws of the colony, which could not be done this session. The proposal was rejected by 41 to 11. A further amendment by Mr. Pirani extending electors' rights to those who may, on account of illness, be unable to attend a poll, or .who may be absent from the district an the day of the polling, was lost. Mr- Monk moved that any married woman in a country electorate who may, from physical!; uniitness or bad state of roads, be unable to go to a poll, shall be entitled to an elector's right. Thia was lost by 36 to 23. Mr. A. L. D. Fra«er moved! to include co-operative labourers as entitled to electoral rights.—Lost by 37 to 23. At clause 98—Deposits by candidates — Mr. Heke moved to increase the deposit to £25, iiMead of £10, provided by the Bill.—Lost on the voices, as was ateo a pioppsal to forfeit the deposit if a candidate did not pof'l one-fourth instead of one-tentli the number of votes received by the successful candidate.