PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 194, 15 August 1907, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

TH X "MKiKI.-R ACQUITTAL BILL.

The Meikle Acquittal Bill, introduced by the Right Hon. Sir -Joseph Ward, ■was read a first time.

PETITIONS. Nearly the whole of the afternoon was spent in discussing petitions. TAPPER HOUSE. THE BILL PASSED. When the House resumed at 7.30 pjn., the Legislative Council Election Bill (Sir William Steward) came on for third reading.

Mr. Houston moved, without making any comment, "That the bill be read this day six months."

Mr. Heke suggested that if membars of the Legislative Council depended upon the Lower House for their election, there would be no end to the log rolling which ■would go on. He was surprised at the absence of any expression from the GoTemment on the subject

Mr. Massey regretted that the member i for Bay of Islands should have seen . fit to move his amendment A • very ; substantial majority of members had • voted for the bill on its second read- i ing, and had supported it in its Committee stage. There was a general feel- , ing in favour of an amendment of the system of appointments to the Legislative Council- He hoped the direct representatives of the people would send the bill on to another place to see ■what reception it -would have from those who had come into politics by what might be Termed the back.door. Sir Joseph Ward said he could not vote for the amendment, but he would vote against the third reading of the bill without any hesitation, because he had opposed the bill right through consistently. He thought the member for Wsitski should have an opportunity of ascertaining the views of members upon the third reading. He had voted deliberately, for the proposal admitting the nomination of -women to the Upper House, but he was opposed to women, beins nominated for election to the House of Representatives. "Whilst he had always supported women's franchise, there were many difficulties in the way of women standing for election in the hurly burly of politics. There would be [ a necessity, as the country grew older | and the population grew larger, for some j check to be put upon hasty legislation | ■which might go through the Lower ; House and do irreparable injury. Logic- j ally, they could not have a more perfects Evstem than the Government of tne day, backed by tie people of the country nominating the members of the Upper House. After all, even the proposals put forward in the bill came back to the same things because in nine cases out of ten. the men. -who' had the goodwill of the Government "which was in a majority, would be returned. It was well within the lines of party politics for the Oppostion to make objection to the appointments. Looking at the matter i apart altogether from a party point of j view, the only conclusion which could be reached would be that there, wa« no better way than for our appointments to . be made by a Go-pemment responsible to Parliament. . _ Mr. Ell said he had all along contended that a country like New Zealand, with a handful of people, could do without a second legislative chamber. Provinces in Pa-nafla-j with a population of a couple of millions, did without a Legislative GounciL If a check upon legislation was wanted, the proper method would be by< means of the referendum. Mr. W. Fraser opposed the bUL

The amendment moved by Mr. Houston was lost on the voices, and the House then divided upon the motion to read the bill a third time. This was agreed to by 35 votes to 28, hearty applause greeting the announcement. The bill was then passed.

Following was the division list:—

Ayes: 35—Messrs, Aitken, Alison, J. Allen, Arnold, Barker, Bollard, Colvin, Davey, EH, Fisher, Gray, Tfajnvn, Hardy, Hosan, Izard, Lang, Lawrenson. Lawxy Lethbridge Lewis, McLachlan, Mander, Massey, Okey, Poole, Boss, Rutherford, Seddon, Sidej, Stevens, Sir W. Steward, Symes, Tanner, Thomson, "Witty. Noes: 2S—Messrs. E. G. Allen, Barclay, Bennett, Carroll, Dillon, Duncan, riatman, A. L. D. Fraser, W. Fraser, Greenslade, Heke, Horasby, Houston, Kidd, McGowan, R. McKenzie, McNab, McPherson, Major, Millar, Ngata, Paraia, Poland, Remington, Stallworthy,. SVard, Wilford. Wood.

THE COAL MINES AMENDMENT ACT. The Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill '(Mr. Colvin) iras read a third time without discussion, on the voices. The hi 1 then passed. LAMPS ON \TEHICIiES. Mr. Majors Lamps on Vehicles Bin was considered in committee. The House attempted to make a number of minor amendments in the bill, and after spending an hour in. these efforts, divided upon Mr. Will ord's motion to report progress. This was lost by 20 votes. Mr. Witty moved an amendment to clause 3, confining the operation of the bill to cities or boroughs. Mr. Barber -deplored the waste of time ■which, was taking place in regard to an amendment which he characterised as frivolous- It was no wonder , lie added, that private members' nights were curtailed. Mr. Witty retorted that the country districts should be allowed to make byJaws for themselves, as did the town authorities.

At 10.30 p-m. Mr. Remington, suggesting that the next bill on the order paper should be given a chance, moved that the Chairman leave the chair. Mr. Heke reverted to a previous proposal that horses should carry a light when being ridden at night. The Premier suggested that it would be far better to realise that nothing more could be done with the bill, and that progress should be reported, and eveTjoae "go home. (Eear, hear.) He moved to report progress. Replying to Mr. James Allen, the Premier said the Government could not take up Mr. A. L. D. JTrased'a Accountants' Bill, because there were some points in it with which, they did not agree. Howeer, it would be circulated amongst those interested and probably next session the Government would bring down a bQI on the subject. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 11.5 p.m.