HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 11, 14 July 1892, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Welhngton July 12. The House met at 2.80. In reply to Mr Rhodes, the Premier said he did not propose to deal at present with the questions of amending " Tbe Land and Income Assessment Act. 1891," . so as not to impose taxation in respect of debentures held by persons not resident in New Zealand, whose money is invested in registered mortgages, but be would do so when he brought down his amended later on in the session. Mr Rhodes protested against the Premier's reply, and complained that certain information on this head had been given to an opponent of his at the last election, and he, as a member of the House, had surely as much right to this information * as that gentleman. Messrs Scobie Mackenzie, Fisher, and Sir John Hall also spoke, the. debate be* ing interrupted by the 5.80 adjournment. After the House had resumed business, the Electoral Bill was taken in committee. Mr Fish then moved to strike out of the clause the portion* providing that claim to vote means " a claim by any person to have his or her name entered on the roll for any district," the words " or her." This was lost by 43 to 12. Dr Newman asked whether the Pre* mier would be willing io extend the privilege proposed to be conferred on com* mercial travellera and shearers to all other persons who might be otherwise prevented from voting by various circum* stances. Sir John Hall also wished to know whether some provision could be inserted to enable sick people to register their votes. Mr Ballance said that would do away with the secrecy of the ballot, and they might just as well abolish the ballot al* together. As to the proposal to extend the franchise to other than commercial travellers he could not agree with that and thought they had better first make the experiment of conferring the franchise on commercial travellers, shearers and seamen. Clause 6, qualification of electors — Mr Kelly (Invercargill) moved to strike out the freehold qualifications in favour of residential only. Mr Ballance pointed out that this clause would npt affect the one-man-one* vote or one-man-roll. Mr W. P. Beeves strongly supported the amendment, and said the time was coming when the House would be elected on manhood suffrage only. Mr Rolleston said his side of the House did not encourage the taking away of the people's rights, and they wished to retain this little relic of real Liberalism in the Bill, and not to destroy the Bill by the sham Liberalism of the present day. After a Jong debate, Mr Kelly's amend* ment was lost by 44 to 14. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 2.5 a.m. July 13. Mr George Hutchison asked the Premier if he would have the Order Paper arranged so that the interrupted debate on the motion regarding the Hon John Bryce might be taken on Friday next. The Hon Premier replied that he was very desirous of having the motion in question disposed of, but he could not arrange to have the debate taken on Friday. Mr W. Hutchison moved the second reading of the Eight Hours Bill. Tbe second reading was carried on the voices, and the Bill was set down for com* mittal on Thursday 28th instant. The Bankruptcy Bill was then taken in committee, when clauses were passed without divison or alteration until clause 82 was reached, when on the motion of Mr Geo. Hutchison, consideration of that' clause was postponed. Further clauses were passed up to clause 94, when pro. grass was reported and the committee asked leave to sit again. The House rose at 10 minutes past 1 a.m. *