PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 292, 3 September 1908, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

BEPLIES TO QUESTIONS, SECOND BALLOT BILL DISCUSSED EXPLANATION BY THE PREMIER. MR. MASSEY'S CRITICISMS. ■SECOND READING CARRIED. In tho Legislative Council yesterday, the Westport Harbour Board Loan Bill! was read a second time, tho Local Elections and Polls Amendment -Bill,- tho Toirn Boards Amendment Bill, and tho Oaniaru Reserves Bill wqre put through committee, "and tho Coroners Amendment Bill was 1 put'through its final stages. Tho Christcliurch Sanitation: Bill was committed, but. protests were again made against certain clauses; and eventually progress. was reported to' .'enable Mr. Louisson to propose a- new- adjustment of the relations of .'property-owners' and tenants under the Bill. ' •The House of Representative's devoted tho afternoon to discussing Ministerial replies to questions, railway topics' taking precedence.

iAt the evening sitting. t!>o, Premier moved the second reading-.of tho Second Ballot Bill.' He argued, from results of tho' last . three general olectiohs, that minority representation was increasing, and that the figures did not show, that the .Government would gain a party advantage, from, the proposed change. . \ Queensland ;■ was quoted against the absolute majority scheme, and Germany in favour of second: ballots. He also sought to show that the country candidates would not suffer in a'"seeond ballot. A vigorous and telling reply to the Primo Minister was made by tho Leader of: tho Opposition, who declared ( that , tho Bill > had' been introduced for party-advantage. Ho. also read speeches of tho Hons. G. Fowlds, R. M'Nab, and J. A. Millar to show that they had been against the principle'of: tho Bill. Ho argued tho measure' Would open tho way to political corruption.-, Following: Mr. Massey-camo the Minister for Labour, .who ■ oxplaincd his attitude on . the occasion quoted by :the Leader of tho Opposition, and gave liis reason for supporting the Bill. . ' ' At .1.30 p.m. the House divided, and tho cecond reading was carried by 43 to 15. THE COUNCIL. i ■ ■ JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. Tho Hon. 0. SAMUEL (Taranaki) gave notice of a Bill to amend the Justices of tho •Peace Act. . WESTPORT HARBOUR BILL. . The Hon. J. It. SINCLAIR (Otago) moved the . second reading of the, Westport Harbour Board Loan Bill, which empowers the board to raise . loans amounting ' to £200,000 for tho improvement of tho harbour. . . - . . .- The Hon. J. E. JENKINSON (Wellington) said no local body ever came to Parliament with a bolter case. Parochialism ehould bo'a'baiidoiled and an effort made to create a really- first-class port for export trade on tho West , Coast. Ho , was not sure whether-it, should bo Wcstport,,or Greymouth, probably - Wcstport, as tho coal; was there. It . was a mistake to go on pouring money into .the sea on ;the East Coast, at Oamaru, . Tiinaru,' and other small places. Tho nearest: port to Australia, should .bo made a..first-class port. . , , • .i The Hon.. )V. W. ;(Aucldahd),. declared'.that'i; Kawhiti was -.-the nearest port to 'Australia',' he- would support tlio ..wished. -to^sa^rjthat;' with -its natural - advantages, Kawhia [ could • : bo>' developed more • cheaply .than any other harboUi\ •• . ~. • ■ Tho Hon. R. : H. J. REEVES ; . ; .(Nolson) supported | tho l .Bill. ._He..insisted :that West-, port tho nearest port to Australia. He.;rogarded-tho.question as a national one. ■ •

The Hon. J; MARSHALL (Westland) insisted that .one- great port '.for the West Coast woujd not bo enough. Greyniouth was also necessary- as a harbour, .and he hoped' some day, to. see the natural - harbour at Point Elizabeth developed; to servo the great coal. country -in the district. Ho supported the Bill; •, . > • Tho second reading was carried. QUACKERY PREVENTION BILL. The Quackery Prevention Bill, which was jet down, for: committal, was referred in-, stead to the. Statutes Revision- Committee. LOCAL ELECTIONS. The Local Elections -and' Polls Amendment Bill (Hon. J. It. 'Sinclair) was committed. Drafting- amendments •• wero mado, 'and the Bill was-'subsequently reported.'' FRANCHISE IN TOWN DISTRICTS. The Town Boards Amendment Bill (Hon. J. E. Jenkinson) .was committed. '.The 'ATTORNEY-GENERAL. (Hon. Dr. Findlay) .pointed', out that while tho Bill proposed to apply'' the municipal franchise -of the Act of 1900 to the town board elections there' was another Bill on the Order Paper to alter tho qualifications for municipal elections. He asked how that would affect the present Bill. , ' The Hon. Vv. 0. SMITH, said he understood that .if;-both Bills were passed, the franchise (for., town districts -.and boroughs would be identical. . The Hon. J.' RIGG took tile same view. Tho Hon. G..,JONES said, in the course or discussion, that .the..', difficulty arose through a multiplicity of Bilk being brought in by different members. All such measures should bp introduced by, f tho Government. . The Bill passed through-committee,.with-out amendment, and tho .third reading was eet down for nest Wednesday. OAMARU RESERVES BILL. The Oaraaru Reserves Bill (Hon. G. Jones)' was put through Committee, minor amendments being made. CORONERS AMENDMENT BILL. The Coroners Amendment , Bill was read a third .time and passed, on the motion of the Attorney-General. . CHRISTCHURCH SANITATION BILL. Tho Christchurch City Sanitation Bill was committed. The Hon. E. C. J. STEVENS objected to the provision enabling tho City Council to raise the proposed loan of £30,000 without tho special sanction of the ratepayers. Tho Hon. C. LOUISSON contended that it was an accepted principle that a further loan amounting to ten per cent. ..of a loan already sanctioned be raised to'complete the work for which tho first loan was authorised, Tho clause was passed unaltered. Tho Hon. C. LOUISSON, whohad chargo of the Bill, moved amendments which would have the effect of enabling onners and lessees whose leases had not. less than one year 'to run to take ..advantage of. tho provisions' facilitating the making of connections with the sewers, and to be joined with the owners in regard to liability for repayment of advVauees made out of the loans authorised by the Bill. Monthly and weekly tenants would thus bo excluded. Own» and Ocouplor. ; The ATTORNE Y-GENEIUL ; (Hon. Dr. Findlay), in the course of discussion, reviewed previous'legislation dealing'with Christchurch drainage to show that it had not beforo been proposed to make occupiers, as well as owners, liable in respect of these advances. It seemed to him that tho Council ishould consider whether, they ought to throw upon a man who had only one year's occupancy before him the direct liability for the whole cost of the connection; "

Hon. J. Anstoy: Why not provido for arbitration ? Dr. Findlay pointed out that arbitration would be too expensive, as tliero would bo a largo number of cases with small amounts involved. Ho suggested that tho occupier should pay a definite porcentago of tho cost, say 10 per cent, per annum, such payment' to cover interest, depreciation, slid instalments for' repayment of tho advance. Ho imagined that in ten years tho benefit would bo about exhausted > Tho Hon. G.-JONES (Otago) said it would bo 'impossiblo to got tho Bill through tho Council in its present form. After further discussion Mr. Louisson moved to report progress with* ai view to drafting a now clause to provido for a fair apportionment of'tho liability iii-question between the owner and tlio occupier. Ho intimated that ho would consult the AttomeyGonoral on tho subject. ■ Progress was reported, and tlio Council rose at -1.55 p.in ' THE HOUSE. SECOND BALLOT BILL. SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. •, Tho House met at 2,30 p.m., the afternoon being devoted to questions and replies. Tlio PRIME MINISTER (Sir Joseph Ward) roso at 7.30 p.m. to move the second reading of tho Second Ballot Bill. Ho said that tlio measure proposed to establish a system of second ballots so that an absolute majority of the votes cast at a Parliamentary election would go to the candidate who was elected. In 'the event of no candidate receiving an absolute majority at the first ballot, the' olio who was at tho head - of tho poll, and tho one. who came' next, would require to go to a second ballot. Not morothau two candidates would go to tho second ballot. A second ballot would not bo held if, on a recount of tlio votes, consequent on a dispute, it was found that one candidate had secured an absolute majority. All tho minor requirements of tho system had ■ been carefully thought out, and wore provided for in the Bill. In the event' of an absolute majority not boing attained in tho first instance, tho. second election must tako place on tho seventh day after tho ordinary poll, except in nine specified electorates, where it would tako place on tho fourteenth day. Those nine electorates were: Bay of Islands, Bay of Plenty, Kaipara, Marsden, Taumaranui, Tauranga, Wakatipu, Wallace, and Wc'stland. The matter had been carefully gone into, and it was believed that there would he no difficulty, in'tho other districts in holding tho second'ballot on the seventh day. In tho event of the death of one. of tlio candidates there would bo 'no_ " walkr , ovor." The whole proceedings would liavo to tako, place do novo.- He understood that ono objection to tlio Bill w»s on tho scoro of expense, but against this it was provided that tho Government should pay the expenses of both the candidates who had to go to a second ballot, up'to £50 e».ck.> Minority Representation Increasing. Ho wanted to show his reasons for introducing this Bill on behalf of tho Govern-, inont. It was based on what ho believed to be the very important principlo that the majority should rulo in everything. Figures of tno last threo general elections showed that there was a tendency for an increasing number of the members of tho House of Representatives to bo returnod by a minority, of tho electors in their constituencies. In tho election of 1899, seven members were returned in this way, tlioir total votes falling short of what they would have required, in order-to obtain absolute majorities, by 14,744 votes. There wero 13,892 votes cast for the successful candidates, and 15,595 for the .unsuccessful Aies. In 1902 thero: were fourteen members returned with less than an absolute majority. Their total veto wa5'23,497, while tho-total voto of.tho unsuccessful candidates opposing them was 41,575. .Ho was not going •to , give,, any names, as-it-was quite an. impersonal matter. ' .. '. ■'

...Mr, Massey : I . quito understand,,!". • Sir Joseph Ward said ho would state presently tho number iof Government members and Opposition members, but he would not give -names. Tho fourteen membors who were returned bv, a minority. vote in ,1902 would havo required.a.total of 37,537 votes to malto up an. absolute majority for each one. In 1905 there was again an increaso of .minority representation, for fifteen , members were returned by less than an absolute majority. They polled 36,381 votes against 46,431 polled by tho unsuccessful candidates. Tho successful candidates would havo required to poll 41,407 votes 'to obtain an absolute majority. Government and Oppssition.

As to tho point raised by tho interjection of the Leadcr of tho Opposition, ha (tho. Premier) would show that the measure was not being brought forward on tho question of party. , He would show theni tno truo position. In 1899, out of seven \ minority members, theVo were throe supporters of the Government and three of tho Opposition, oxcluding tho city triple" electorates, which were useless for purposes of comparison. In 1902, eight- of the minority representatives woro Oppositionists and six supported the Government,, and in 1905, twelve of those who failed to secure an absoluto majority at the polls supported tho Government, and the other threo the Opposition. Tho Government, it would be apparent, was not' urging this measure on tho ground that past ox- , perienco showed that they could thus obtain a party advantage., It was almost a certainty that in the election, and succeeding elections, thero would bo a further increase of minority reprosentatiqn, and unless something was done to ensure the rule of the majority they might liavo. more than half the mombers of the House representing less than an absoluto majority in their respective constituencies. Queensland's Experience. It might bo asked if any system of voting could bo made perfect. Ho.did not believe it could. _ Perfection was certainly out of tho question under the existing law. Nor could it bo obtained under tho absolute majority, or contingent voting, 'system, except by making tho exerciso of tho contingent voto compulsory—a condition which would bo regarded as almost insupportable. • The contingent voting system appeared, on paper,' tho. most porfect system—leaving out of account the proportional system, which also looked perfect on paper. Sir Joseph then read a letter from Mr. Kidston, ■ Premier of Queensland, which, ho stated, was tho only country that had had the absolute majority voting. In this communication, which was written last May, Mr. Kidston stated t!>at the contingent vote had been but little used," and ho had several times felt tempted to adopt the second ballot system, but he thought contingent voting might be cffectivo if it wore made compulsory. Mr. Kidston also said that tho Lower House had agreed to the abolition of the contingent voting system, but the_ Legislative ! Council would •not consent. Sir Joseph Ward also road a letter from another Queensland authority, expressing similar views. ■Experience In Cerinany. The Premier went on to say that members who had beon elected by a minority voto must not run away with' tho idea that they could havo been elected if the second ballot system had been the law. He believed that at tho second ballot tho electors would consider the • principles, tho capacity, and the character of the candidates, as in the ordinary way, and the one wlio headed tho poll would not find everyone turning against him at tho second ballot. Experience in Germany boro out this statement. He was not going to bo upset by citations of what had taken place in some of tho smaller foreign countries. The Germans woro a very progressive people, and tho Reichstag contained 397 deputies, whoso constituencies contained as many as 131,604 inhabitants. Thero were often as many as 20 or 25 candidates for a seat, and there wero seven important'jiolitical parties. In Franco thero wero eight important parties, and'the second liallot system had been in force there sinco 1871. It had obtained in some of tho German States for nearly 40 years, and no effort of any consequence had been made to .abolish • it. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Massey: They aro getting vory tired of it.' • The Premier: "And they, are gettinx: yory

tired in Queensland." He also said that thero was a movemont against minority representation. In Germany only two candidates went to the second ballot, as proposed in tlio Bill. Tho Premier deprecated tho idea that second ballots would crcato great opportunities for corruption. Hq. die! not think that, in any New Zealand * electorate, the power of tlie purse, working through any poisiblo organisation, would be able to command 500, or 200, or any other number of votes given to tho third or other candidates, so as to cause any particular man to bo elected at tlio second ballot. • Thorp would bo too 'many voters to bargain with in seven days for their free and independent rights. Tho licensing and 'other issues ■ would not como in to affect the second ballot. It would bo a straight-out contest to seo which candidate a majority of the electors preferred. Nst Nocossary. . Tho Premier went oh to remark that ho hoped 110 proposal would be made to defer this Bill so as to put it beforo tho people. Mr. Alison: Why not? Another' member: It, has been before tho people for fifteen years. Tho Premier asked if a precedent could-bo shown where, on a proposal to confer greater privileges and rights upon tho people, tho Government had placed that proposal before tho people. Ho had been able, after hours of search, to find not one such precedent. All tho members wero trusted by their constituencies—constituencies of better educated peoplo than in any other country in tho world. No representations had been niado to members as far as lie know', and certainly not .to tho Government, against tlio second ballot. An lion, member: I havo received a number of letters! Tho l'rimo Minister (jocularly): Then why have they not been sent on to mo? (Laughter.) Mr. Massey interjected something about a telegram to tlio Waitemata electorate, tho words not reaching *tho press gallery.

Tho Prime Minister replied with' increasing heat that ho bad sent no to anyone saying that tho member for Waitemata must bo defeated at all costs. Ho challenged the Opposition to produco such a telegram. Ho defied Mr. Masscy to do it. (Hear, hear.) / • Evils of tho Present System. Sir Joseph, proceeding, asked were lion, members prepared to " continue under tho present system. He reminded members of tho fact that under tho present system minority results had again and again been produced by dummy candidates being put up— men who had no chanco of being returned, who were paid to stand between tho candidates. His conviction was that not half a dozen re-elections would occur under tho second ballot. Moreover/ it could not be shown that under tho proposal tho financially poor candidate could not, with perfect confidence, go to tho second ballot. Town v. Country. It was said that tho towns would bo. advantaged at tho expense of the country. Ho recognised the additional difficulties of registering votes in tho country, but' in every centre whore a few people lived pilling booths were placed, and communication ' was- easy. He suggested that elections should bo held on half-holidays in the towns, and his opinion Was that Wednesday was the suitable day, making tho day a full holiday. Then if a second ballot was ' necessary tho succeeding Wednesday' would also be declared a full holiday. (Hear, hew.) He again recalled election results of tho past to support tho neoessity for tho proposed reform. Tho Nativo Mmlsers. The Maori members, he said, would not bo included in the proposals. Believing as ho did that the majority should rule, and that the majority of. tho. voters would soon eserciso their full privileges, ho had pleasure 'in moving tho second reading of , tho Bill. (Applause.) THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. ■ Mr. MAgSEY (Leader'of tho Opposition), said tho Primo Minister's speech had .reminded him of a lawyor defending a bad case, a counsol endeavouring to. do his best for a guilty prisoner. Ho. had, ; arguod. out ...as much in favour of tho Bill as in favour., of. tho absolute majority poll. Ho had:argued against the contingent vote, and against, the, present system. :Tho Prime, Minister had said lie did not intend tho Bill, to apply .to tho Native race, "because ■ho thought, the. Maoris should havo a clean, square-cut issue."' (Hoar, hear.) What was implied by/.tliat? That the clean, square-cut issue -was being, .refused under tho Bill to the electors. ,(oh' oh!) The Prime.Minister had said, this, and: h« took him at his word.

For Party Purposes, They know the Bill was brought down for party purposes. . Not an elector in the country but know it! ■ It was brought down ■to placo a handicap on tho men who proposed to offer themselves to the electors. "I know that vote-splitting has'been unsatisfactory in tho past. I have suffered from it as much as anyone." But in overcoming, that ovil'they should be careful, for they were introducing a 'greater: ' (Hear,; hear.) Just imagine the wire-pulling that''would take place during tho seven or fourteen days' interval botween tho ballots!' . The Pi'imo Minister: By you or your candidates! . Mr. Massey: The fight hon. gentleman had said he was against tho uso of private money, but it was not from the private pocket that tho money would como; but from, the Government in power. Imagino what would happen! Suppose a constituency had a road or a bridgo.it wanted badly. What would be easier than for tho Government in power to circulate it round tho district that the want would be supplied in tho event of tho Government candidate being elected? This would bo taken • advantage of. Ho had had fifteen years of political experience, and ho know what had tak&n place in bis own and other electorates. (Hear, hear.) An .interjection was. made by tho Primo •Minister regarding the telegram mentioned above. Mr. Massey: "Does the hon. gentleman want to know about it?" Ho added that he had been informed that a telegram, or a letter, had been sent by a Minister of the Crown during tho present year stating that the present member for Waitemata (before his retiring announcement) must be defeated at all costs. • . Sir Joseph Ward: I would like, to know whom tho letter or telegram came from. . Mr. Massey: I havo the information from a dozen different sources.Tho Primo Minister: It was not my telegram or letter. I think it should be produced. , Mr. 'Alison interjected that lie had been informed by several peoplo that they had seen tho telegram. ' Ho had not seen it himself. Difficulties. Would tho electors, continued Mr. Massey, go to the poll the second time? Tho Premier had been sure of the towns but not so suro of tho country districts. It was not fair to ask the country people to voto on a second occasion, losing tho time involved. In Germany only one-third of tho electors had voted on the socond occasion. The important principlo involved was: Was the minority to bo represented or not? Was thero a man who would bo non-Liberal enough to say no? Mr. Hornsby: I do. Mr. Massey: Then Mr. Hornsby is tho only Tory representative in tho Ilouso I (Laughter.) Better Systems. . Thero were better systems than the. second ballot, and this proposal would be worso than the present state of affairs. They should havo a systoin of proportional representation. No class of the community would then bo unrepresented. He was going to quote former opinions of some members of the present Ministry on this matter. (Oil! oh I) "Tho Minister for Education looks guilty. (Laughter.) I am sorry tho Minister for Lands is .not here, because ho always sticks to "his opinions." (Laughter.) He quoted the Hon. R. M'Nab in 1902 to show that lie had spoken strongly against the principle "of the second ballot, because the candidates would be under tho influence of political "creatures" and organisations. Tho opinions of tho Hon. G. Fowlds- of 1905 -..were also quoted. Inter.alia, ['tho Minister was quoted as saying tho second

ballot would open up "tho possibility of political dealings in buying and selling sections of tho community between tho two ballots. That possibility might bo very objcctionablo to tho community." (Ohl oil!) The cost opinion was from the man who never backed down—tho Minister for Labour. (Laughter.) That Minister had said that "the minority had a right to be represented as well as tho majority; that, though a candidate may represent the minority, he, may still represent tho majority, and the views of tho majority. Mr. Millar had been speaking on tho Absoluto Majority Bill at the timo, but his remarks, nevertheless, applied to tho rights of the minority. In Gsneluaion. Mr. Massey said ho had now quoted the principles of three members of the Ministry, and he asked them to stand to those principles. Ho read tho views of students in Belgium regarding tho desirability of abolishing the second ballot. Tho second ballot, wherever tried, had proved a failuro; had mado confusion worse confounded, and had created corruption where no corruption had oxisted. Though no petitions had come against tho Bill ho challenged tho Premier to produce one in its favour, or asking for it. Tho peoplo of the country knew perfectly well that tho Bill was introduced for party reasons. (Hear, hear.) MINISTER FOR LABOUR. Tho HON. J. MILLAR congratulated tho lion, gentleman on his form, and said that it reminded him of old times to hear "bribery and corruption" hurled across tho floor again. And this cry of bribery and corruption was tho only argument" advanced against the Bill.

As to Mr. Massey's quotation from his (tho Minister's) speech, that speech had been on tho subject of the contingent vote, and ho further claimed that under tho present Bill tho would havo representation as well as tho majority. His argument then applied to tho present Bill. Could anyollo say tlio present stato of things was satisfactory? Ho quoted Professor Langstono as having favoured tho second'ballot, and also from a British White Book. Tho Loader of cho-Opposition in l!) 05 had said somo system was desirable that would give majority representation. .Corruption under this Bill ho asserted would bo impossiblo within soven days. Tlioro were threo Bills now beforo tho British Parliament proposing a better form of voting, and shortly tlio British Prime Minister was to make a declaration as to which he would take up. This showed that a feeling existed at Homo that another form of election was desirable. Ho felt that if lion, membfirs w6uld go into the matter their fears would be dispolled. The Bill was, of course, largely au experiment, but his own opinion was that it would work well. •/ OTHER SPEAKERS. Sir. James ALLEN (Bruce) said that representation should bo of the. whole of the people—tho minority as well as tho majority, lie was not prepared to say whether proportional representation would do this, but tho prcsont juncture was a grand _ opportunity, which tho Government had ;missed, to endeavour to have all sections of the country represented. Mr. Allen also read extracts from papers and pamphlets against tho success of tho second ballot in Belgium. He emphasised that peoplo would stay away themselves from the second poll, 'especially with the absence of the excitement of the licensing poll. The t second ballot was to bo town against country,. becauso only a proportion of the country people would go to tho second poll. At last election 173,000 voters wore .in tho minority, and wero these people not to bo represented? Somo improvement was undoubtedly required, but a proportional system was desirable. ' Mr. W. TANNER (Avon) complained that tho electors at tho last clcction had been given no indication that this question was to bo introduced during this Parliament. At. the same timo 110 would divest himself of any suggestion that tho Bill was tliero for frarty purposes. No Parliamont, ho proceeded, had represented tho country, as a whole, liko the present; Ho spoko against the Bill. In tho absence of a local, option poll at tlio second, ballot, a comparatively Email' number of electors would vote. Splitting' Votes. jfr. J. T.iM. HORNSBY (Wairarapa) supported the Bill, which ho sbated would thwart tho tactics of. thoso who put up "fizz-gig candidates," or "men of straw," on purpose to 'split tho votes. Judging from his . own' 'electorate, tho voters, and especially the women, would como willingly to the second ballot.

: ■ Dr. CHAPPLE (Tuapeka) said that nobody could quote Germany as an example arid bo true to democratic principles. Ho quoted examples of undemocratic electoral methods in Germany, and said that the second ballot was retained in that country because it suited the tyrannical disposition of, the Government. He objected to the present system in Now Zealand, becauso it reduced tho number of candidates, whereas the moro candidate's tho better it would bo for tho country.- After recapitulating objections previously urged against the Bill, Dr. Chapplo referred to English newspaper articles giving results of tho second ballot system in other countries, and concluding that it was not a success. Tho English Labour party, which formerly supported tho sccond ballot, now opposed it. All tho advantages of the second ballot system could be secured by means of tho absolute majority or contingent voting system, and ho thought as many people would oxerciso tho contingent vote as would go to a sccond ballot. Ho suggested that a sccond ballot should bo held, if there wore not enough contingent votes cast to give an absoluto majority. , More Hansard. Mr. J. A. HANAN (Invercargill) quoted Hansard, 1904, to show that Messrs. James Allen, Bollard, Alison, Lang, and other Opposition members voted against proportional representation, whilo amongst members of the same party who supported tho Bill woro Messrs. Hcrries, Lewis, Minder, Massoy, Rcid, and Aitken. Ho supported tho Bill. . Mr. T. K. SIDEY (Caversham) supported Dr. Chappie's proposal to continue the second ballot system with the absoluto majority system. Mr. J. C. THOMSON (Wallace) supported tho Bill, but advocated amendments to ensure that the sccond ballot should be "pure, straight,- and' above board." Mr. E. AV. LANG (Manukau) opposed second ballots as being .costly and ineffective. Mr. MAJOR (Hawera) supported the Bill, which, ho said, would not give an advantage to any singlo party. He thought there would bo moro votes polled at tho second ballot than at tho fir.st ballot. Mr. BERRIES opposed tho Bill, and attributed its introduction to party motives. Mr. NGATA suggested that tho measure should bo given a _ trial at one election in the' European constituencies. Mr. Heke _ also spoko, and tho Prime Minister replied. A division was then taken, and tho second roading was carricd by 43 to 15. DIVISION LIST. The following is tho division list:— ■ Ayes (43).— E. G. Allen, Arnold, Barber, Barclay, Rnddo, Carroll, Colvin, Davo.v, Dillon, Ell, Field, Fisher, Flatman, A. L. D. Eraser, Gray, Hall, Ilanan, Heke, Hoean, Hogg, Hornsby, Izard, Jcnnines, Kfati, Lawry, M'Gowan, 1?. M'Keuzic. Macnhnrson, Major, Millar, Neata, Parata, Poland, Poole, Ross, Sodden, Sidey, Stallworthy, Steward, Thomson. AVard, Witty, AVood. Noes (15)— J. Allen, Chapplo, Graham, Hnrdy, ■Hcrries, Lang, Lethbridge, Lewis, Malcolm, Mandor, Massey, Okey, Roid, Rhodes.-■ Tanner. _ . Tho House then adjourned. I