PARLIAMENTARY

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 1, 2 July 1892, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

HOUSE OP EEPEESENTATIVES. Wellington. June 60. Replying to Mr E, M. Smith the Pro mier said he thought his question re the granting of a pension to the widow of Sir Harry Atkinson was a little premature ; he would be abie to gire the Honse some further information on the subject at a later stage of the session. The Minister of Land*, replying to Mr McGmre, said he would, in a few days, bring in a Bill providing for the appoint* ment of experts to grade butter, flas, clieese, and other agricultural produce exported from the Colony. The debate on the motion of Mr MeGuire for the rescindmentof the resolu* tion regretting the use of certain words by the Hon J, Bryce, was then continued by the Ninistcr for Public Works. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. July 1. Replying to questions it was stated— That there was no reason to depart from (he usual course in the matter of grant* ing compensation to Mr W. B. Edwards for the loss of. office as Judge of the Supreme Court. The ordinary forms of the House gave full opportunity tor having this question ventilated.— That there was no time this session to deal with an amendment to the Rating Act giving local bodies power to exempt permanent improvement from local taxation, but a Bill would be prepared at a future time.— That the police were doing their utmost to slop tho practice of sly grog selling in the King Country, The Hon. Mr Ballance ni.ived the second reading of the Electoral Bill, to amend and consolidate the law relating to the qualification of electors and the conduct of election of members of the House. The most important alteration in. the present measure was the granting of the franchise to women, which the Government were anxious to see earned into law this year. Mr Rolleston admitted that the Bill was valuable as a consolidating measure. The female franchise proposal would have his strongest opposition, as not being within the region of practisal politics. Mr Scobie Mackenzie thought the one bolt in the Bill was the one man-one registration proposal. The Bill as n, whole, however, he should be happy to support. Mr Duthie said he was opposed to women franchise. After further debate, the second read ing was carried, and the House rose at 2.30 a.m.