PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4192, 3 August 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

[By Telegbaph.]

ABOUT THE LOBBIKS.

(From our Special Correspo>u(e>it.) Wellington, August 3. In speaking to Mr Whitaker's resolution, Mr Macandrew remarked that he need not say it was his intention to oppose the resolutions on the same ground that he opposed the financial policy of the Government and its proposed constitutional changes—because both aimed at the same thing, viz., one purse for the whole Colony, and the adoption of the Compact of 1856. He regarded that compact as absolutely binding upon the Colony so long as New Zealaud has any regard for public faith, and the resolutions of the member for Waikato go directly in the face of both the spirit and the letter of that compact. That compact was affirmed, sealed, and ratified, as it were, by twenty years' prescriptive right, and from that fact it mubt be regarded in the same category as the laws of the Medes and Persians, which changed not. He felt that if this Legislature rescinded that compact it would be admitting a principle that contained the elements of the greatest possible clanger, and which might result in the greatest disaster to the country. He did not believe that any of the members supporting these resolutions would for a moment be cognisant of anything approaching spoliation—perhapa communism was a better word—as regarded private individuals or the different members of the same family; but he confessed he could not see any distinction between communism in the one case and the other. The principle was precisely the same in both cases. If he were called upon to make an election between these resolutions and the Government policy-if he were forced to vote for one or the other—he rather thought he should be disposed to give the preference to the resolutions of the member for Waikato—(Opposition cheers)— inasmuch as they were straightforward, open, and above board. There was no ambiguity about them they went right to the point, if he might use figurative language. The member for Waikato, in broad day light, sent his dagger into the heart of his victim before his victim's face; whereas the Government proposes to suck the life's blood in a very roundabout process, and one not so easily detected. It was a rather singular circumstance that the Speaker and he were the only members in that H<)use who opposed the compact in 1856. He was much interested in looking over the de' ate on that occasion, and it struck him as very remarkable, looking at the events of the past twenty years, how completely their action had been justified by those events, culminating in the resolutions no*v before the House. No doubt at that time the North had the best of the bargain, and because subsequent events proved°that w:\a not, was no reason why it should be repudiated now. Another remarkable point which struck him was that the only member of the House who supported these resolutions, and, for aught he knew, was a party to their construction, was the member f >r Timaru, and ho rejoiced that on the present occasion the hon. gentleman and himself

would be found in the same lobby in defence of vested rights that had grown up under that policy. The principal business in the Council yesterday was a discussion on Dr PoPen's motion to erase the clause in the Local Election Bill allowing proxies, which was carried by 13 to 11. The ayes were—Messrs Baillie, Mantell, "Waterliouse, Paterson, Bonar, Hall, Lahman, Grace, Kenny, Richmond, Menzies, Brett, and Dr Pollen. Noe3—Col. Whitmore, Messrs Stokes, Pharazyn, Fraser, S. ft. Johnson, Robinson, Gray, Acland, Nurse, Scotland, Chamber, and Cain. As a compromise, Mr Johnston on the third reading intends to move a new clause as follows:—"That at all elections under this Act not being elections for municipal bodies, electors shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy, provided authority to exercise proxy is in writing under the hand of the elector upon such proxy by name, and signed by him in the presence of a resident magistrate or justice of the peace ; and the returning officer, on being satisfied that it is duly executed, shall allow such proxy to be exercised, provided that not more than one proxy shall be used by one person. And further, that in no district to which the Act shall apply shall this clause come into force except by the Governor's proclamation or the written request of two-thirds of the members of the local body." The new clause will be opposed bj the Government, but the chances are it will be carried by a majority of one. Some curious stories were told of working a proxy system in Auckland. In one district there are two Boards, each claiming to be rightly elected; in another, a collector secured sufficient proxies to enable him to turn out the entire board and elect men favorable to himself; in a third when it was known that a person attending au election meeting had sufficient proxies in a hat before him to carry the election the eas was turned out and a rush made tor the hat, with the result that in the disorder sufficient proxies were lost to prevent the rest influencing the election. The Separation debate is expected to take ten days at least.

In the lobbies to-day it is stated that Mr Whitaker will cecond them, and that Messrs R.dleston, Reynolds, Wason, and Fisher, will vote with the ayes, bringing the number up to 38 or 39.

In the course of his speeoh to-night Sir G. Grey will intimate that under no circumstances will he take office. This is regarded as but a preliminary to the assumption of the leadership by Mr Whitaker. All the Auckland members, except Captain Read, Messrs Cox, Douglas, and Williams,will support Sir George. In the Legislative Council this afternoon a motion to call before the Bar the Public Debt Sinking Fund Commissioners for not complying with the Act, was met by one of adjournment, the latter being carried by the casting vote ot the Speaker.