THE REPRESENTATION QUESTION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2193, 7 August 1889, Page 3

THE REPRESENTATION QUESTION

(from our own correspondent.} Wellington, August 7. The amendment to the Uepresentatlou BUI moved by Sir J. hn Hall to the iff-d that m eleotlona m city elictoral district*-, wbere three o-tt-dtdatea are to be eleoted, do eleotor shall be allowed to vote f r more than two candidates, wis lanomlnoualy defeated thia evening by 55 to 10, tha Houee being oloarly of opinion that no danger was likely to result from the abolition of p'ural voting In tho , amalgamated city electorates. Tha voices were entirely with the noes, bat Mr Feldwlck and Mr Downle S'ewart, deter* mined to have a division, gave their voloas with the ayes, and considerable amnaement waa caused when tho Chairman named these two gentlemen, wl o were no'or.ona.y opposed lo the proposal, ac tellers for tha ayes Sir John Qui! thoo wanted to withdraw his amt-ndment m favor of Female Franchise, opon which Ur R Reeves announced his intention of taking It np and moving it h'mself. A number of mombers were anxious thn Ibis amendment should be carried ds a wears to the end that tho Bill might eventually bo thrown out, there atill being great dissatisfaction with It among the country party. However, tin amendment \ras at last withdrawn. Then Mr O'Connor withdrew his proposed amendments, Mr Guinness' amendment wae loit, and tbe Bill was at hat roported whb amendments, which aro to be ootißidered to morrow. GENEBAL, An attempt was then msdo to get on with the Otago Central Railway Bill, but after aome moro opposition, tl o debate was adjourned for another fortnight, and the Houee went into Committee on tho Law of Libel Bill. Yory little was dono. however and progress whb reported. The Premier exphined that a rather curious thing had happonod. He was ab_ent when the House adjourned the debate on the second rending o: the Otago Central Hallway Bill, and as Government coald not agree to ono of the meat important Bills being delayed po long at this ft ago of the session, he wonld govo without notice that the order of tho oase for tho adjournment of (ho debate be rescinded. Thiß consent was rofnßod, and tbe Premier then put on his big boots again, and aaid m that case Government would do no more business that night, and he immediately moved tho adjournment Of the bouse till to-morrow. Thia waa agreed to, amid much derisive laughter, and the Honpe rose at 10 30.