Parliamentary.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3260, 19 July 1889, Page 2

Parliamentary.

Tito adjourned debate on the second reading of the Legislative Council Reform Bill was continued in the Upper House yesterday, and the Bill was thrown out on a division by 21 to 10.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES' In answer, to questions Ministers said tlie Government had received! a letter from the Agent General, stating that l}e had accepted tlie position (ah honorary one) of one of tlie Trustees for the Midland Railway Company. The Agent General had written tq the Government what tlie. position ps, and if the Gqyerniqent thought f]t lje would resign, the ofjjce. (Mr Bruce pointed out that people in England might be misled by tbo Agent General's name appearing as one of the Trustees, and he hoped the Government would see that his name was removed. The Premier said tho Government would give the matter careful consideration. Sir G, Grey, Mr riamuel, and others made a similar objection. The Premier said

the Agent General consulted the Government before accepting the office, the duties of wlriob. were to act as trustee for tho debenture holders, What was done, therefore, was dona by the Government, and for his part he saw nothing improper in it. However, he would look into it with very great care, and would tell the House what he proposed to do as soon as tho Trust deeds arrived.)— ■Th'o _ Government now had under consideration steps in the direction of placing the Lincoln School of Agriculture on a better footing.— The Government did not see their way to exempting Volunteer drill and boatshods' from local and general taxation.—Tho question of improving the lighting ot railway carrigeswas one of very great difficulty everywhere, and the lato General Manager was of opinion that the new American carriages on the 'Wellington section were as well lighted as any in the world. The old carriages, however, were very poorly lighted, and tho Railway Commissioners were importing twelve Schanschieff lamps, which would he tried on the Wellington section, ■ The Triennial Licensing Committees Election Bill was committed.

Mr Monk moved a new clause to the eft'eot that the franchise in connection with liconsiog committoe elections be extended to'females.—

Mr Monk eloquently urged the Hoase to give women the right to vote, and was followed by Dr Fitchett, who said women already had tho same privileges on this matter as men, and could vote as ratepayers. Mr Tauncr could not understand how any man possessing a heart could fail to be moved by tho appeal of Mr Monk. He (Mr Tanner) warmly supported the new clause. Mr Withy pointed out that Dr Fitchett was not able to approach this proposal, being a bachelor. (Laughter). Mr R, Reeves maintained that the women of New Zealand were more capable of giving an intelligent vote than men. On the division, tho new clause was rejected by 85 to 88. Mr Goldie moved a new clause, extending the licensing committee franchise to all males and females over 21 years of age. The Chairman moved this out of order, the committee having already refused to alter tho franchise. The Bill was agreed to without amendment, The Education Franchise Bill, the Triennial Licensing Committees Bill, and tho Town Districts Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. The House rose at 11.20.