HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 28, 3 September 1891, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

1 Tuesday, September 1' Mr MecaEthnr was granted one week's." leave of absence- on account of. urgent: private business. Sir John Hall, speaking" to • a tKird', reading of the Land Bill, said the measure introduced many necessary improvements, but there was no doubt the Government were going to withdraw from* future settlers the right of obtaining theirfreehold. Mr G. Hutchison said the Bill was-; unfortunate not only for the unwise provisions in . the alteration of the land; tenure, but also in connection with intemperate statements of the Minister ofLands, which Bailed to the most seriousoccurrences in this House. He (the Minister) said he had several letters from: constituents of his (Mr Hutchison's),, which indicated that he did not representtheir wishes. If the* Minister did nofe, produce those' letters or withdraw his remark he would be in the, position of an. anonymous libeller. Some discussion ensued between • MrG. Hutchison and the Speaker as to-, whether this was an unparliamentary remark, but no actual decision on the sub- - ject was arrived at,. The Bill was then read a third- tinie^ . and passed. The Premier, said it was the first-Be-, form Bill which had been passed in the, other branch of the Legislature, and hadv come from that House to this. The ageof members qualified to sit on the Legis--lative Assembly was altered to 35 years*, and their period of office was proposed to. v be 10 years. In committee he should 'i ask them to make an amendment by altering the term of office from ten to--seven years, and the limit of age from 35 to 21. The Bill was then read a second' time* The House rose at 12.30. Wednesday, September^. The Land Bill was introduced front the House of Representatives' and read a first time, the second reading being set down for Friday.

Mr Blake tabled a motiontcfthe effect that the Female Suffrage Bill shall nyfc. come into operation until after 31st. March, 1894. The Electoral Bill was farther con*., sidered'io committee.— Clause 74, day ofr 1 polling at general election to be a'publicholiday — Mr J. Itf ills thought this should^ only apply to cities. Mr Hogg said it .s ought specially to spply to country • districts while Mr E. Thompson, amid laughter, declared that country peoplewould take not the slightest notice ' of? any legislation whatever on the subjects —Mr Taylor wanted to pay the menforthe half day's holiday. — Mr Fish said: the employes who were paid by the weekwould reap the benefit of this clause, whereas men working on time would lose a day's wages. It would also tend to a great deal of drinking and rowdyism; publiohouses were not closed on election days, and he asked why they should create a cause which would eventually lead to the enforced closing of ; drinfc J shops. The clause was retained by 24---to!7. ' . %; : -:'- Mr Buiok moved an additiqn to j clause--112, providing that where t£e pnmherof yotesis forty or less, the ballot boxes shall be sealed and handed to the Eeturn4 ing Officer immediately, who shall mii them with the other ballot papers, in,/ order that an employer of labour should % not be able to determine the direction in; which his employes had voted. Theother clauses went . through without amendment, and progress was then rey ported. / ' i The House rose at 1.45.