HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1552, 7 May 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday Mat 6. : . , The House mot at 2.30 p.m. ' QUESTIONS. " ■'■■:'!■ Reply to questions, It w«s stated that if the list of independent member* were furnished to tbo Premier, he would consult with the Speaker to obtain a small room m the Parliamentary Building for their nee ; that proposals would probably be brought down providing for the pay* ment of penalties for the infraction, of municipal bye-laws without attendance at ooutt ; that the Railway Department bad frequently tried to complete with wagon traffio but without avail ; that the question of reform m railway management would be dealt with m the Public Works statement ; that senior police sergeants m several towns were allowed to condnot police proseoations as It led to promotion* that no complaints had reached the Railway Department respecting: the revision of the railway tariff for oarrylng agricultural produce. REPRESENTATION. The Premier asked that the Representation Bill be postponed till Tuesday, ai he was m hopes that some arrangement might be come to by that time on the BUI. . Major Atkinson said that the request was a reasonable one, but he regretted that the Premier was not In a position to go on with the Bill, The House agreed to the postponement. JOBILEE. Sir Julius Yogel moved the second reading of the Local Authorities Jubilee Expenditure BUI. He said that nothing but strongly exceptional circumstances would justify the House m the regulation of the expenditure of looal bodies, and the Jubilee of Her Majesty was an exceptional o'rciimatance. He then explained the object of the Bill, which was to- enable local bodies to contribute to objects In celebration of Her Majesty's Jubilee. Major Atkinson regretted that he ahou'd have to oppose the. Bill. He thought looal bodies were not In a position to contribute to a fund of this kind. Parliament should be asked to make » grant if it was required. He suggested that the Bill be postponed Indefinitely. Several other members opposed the Bill on the ground that the looal bodies could not afford contribution Sir Julius Yogel eventually said that the feeling of the House was evidently against the Bill, and he moved for Its withdrawal which was agreed to. BIILS.' The Ward Conservation of Rights BUI and the High School Reserves Aot Amendment Bill were passed through Committee, read a third time and passed. The Premier moved the second reading ofjthe Wellington University College Bill, which he explained was intended to extend the benefits oonneoted with higher education to Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawk«» B>y districts, The motion was agreed to, ' •• Mr To!e moved the Infants Guardianship and Contracts Bill, the object of which was that after the father dies the mother may obtain the guardianship. The motion was agreed to. The Premier moved the seoond reading of the Kermadoo Islands Bill, the object of which was to annex -the. Islands to New Zealand. The motion was agreed to. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES. Tn committee, the Employment of Females Bill was passed with slight amendments. REGULATION OF ELECTIONS. The Premier moved the second reading of the Regulation of Eleotions Aot Amendment A.ot. Its chief provisions were that all ballot papers from the polling places were to be handed to the chief Retaming Officer, and mixed up before counting, and that, instead of putting the voter's number on his ballot paper, It was put on the counterfoil, and strict secresy thus observed. He believed that some objectionable features of the present system would be got rid of by this Bill. Mr Hursthouss objected to the delay that would be cauaod by sending all the papers to the chief Returning Officer. At present the system of preventing personation waß preferable to that proposed by the Premier. Mr W. F. Buokland also objeoted to the Bill, There were other ways of falsify* ing votes than by personation, and these were not provided against. No real advantage was gained by the Bill. He moved it be read that day sfx months.* Mr Fulton thought our laws should be interfered with as seldom as possible; The Bill would give little more security if any, than at present. He had heard no complaints about the working of the present system. . ■•;-■•■ Mr Fisher did not believe there .'■ had been any demand for change. Jf3e regretted that the Premier had given the impression that the ballot was not secret, •' It was a totally erroneoua Impression. Mr Kerr said his experience* was that there waa very little seoresy at all. The delay m making the result of the eleotions known through keeping back the ballot boxes would cause great dissatisfaction. Colonel Fraaer said the Premier's description of the present method of dealing with the ballot papers was wrong. He saw many disadvantages In the Bill, The ballot as conducted now wai as seoret as possible, and the delay incurred under the Bill would be very setleuß. Mr Fitzherbert opposed the Bill. , Mr Levestara would vote for the second reading, but disagreed with some of the piovlsiono. The proposal to have butts to the ballot paperß was a good idea. Major Atkinson believed that the Bill suggested a batter method than tho present one. He deprecated hasty dealing with the measure, eapeoially as there were some other reforms which might well be Introduced into it. He did not like elections all being held on the one day, and he thought the qualifications ought to be altered . The Victorian method of Issuing licenses to voters commended itself to him as a preventative against personat'ou. He moved the adjournment of the debate to give further time for oonsldera. tlon. Mr Buckland withdrew his amendment, and tho adjournment wa« oarried. The P/emier explained that the bill was introduced m consequence of numerous complaints th»t reached him from outlying districts. STAMPS. The Poat Office Aot Amendment Bill, making it penal to have In possession any counterfeit stamp, was read a second time. OLD SOIDIEHS Mr Ballance moved the ssoond reading of the Naval and Military Vulwtaarj

Land BUI. It embodied the result of the labors of the Commission appointed last ■Milon to enquire Into the olalms of old soldiers and volunteers. Me Ballanoe ■aid the Invitation had been very comprehensive, and specific grounds were given for the way In which each olalm had to be dealt with. He explained at length the method of dealing with them, and Mid that any disappointed claimants could Appear before the Waste Lands Committee. The Bill was read a aeoond time. COMMITTEE. Tbe Eleotora Act Amendment Bill was considered In oommittee. Clause 3, Registrar may remove from tho roll names of persons who have changed their reiidtnee, elicited a long dUoussloa. Major Atkinson suggested that a good way of purging the rolls would be by striking off the names of persons who hid not voted at elections. The Premier said he intended to Introduce » Bill making the electoral right to everyone last for thrae years. Clause 4, no objection to be taken at tfl against residential voter exoept he Is rtgWtered elsewhere. Mr O'Callaghan moved an amendment plaolng the freehold voter on the save footing. The olanie as printed was retained by 44 tod. Clause 6, polling hoars to be extended to 7 p.m. Mr G. F. Riohardnon moved an amendment restricting the extension to boroughs and oitles. Mr Reid wlehed to apply it to oity electorates. Major Atkinson said that country members did not want the hours extended. He moved to report progress. The motion was agreed to, and the Home rose at 1.5 a.m;