LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 42, 24 September 1892, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, September 22. The Electoral Bill was again taken in committee.— The Hon Mr McLean moved to include ' harvester ' in the electoral rights clause, and the words were inserted by 16 to 7. — The committee's amendment to close a poll at 7 o'clock in all districts was adopted on the voices. The other House had made the hour 7 o'clock in electorates with a population exceeding 4000, and 6 o'clock in other electorates. — The Hon. Colonial Secretary strongly objected to striking out clause 102, allowing city electors to give one vote to each candidate. A debate followed on the principle of one-man-one-vote in the cities, and the clause was struck out by 11 to 7. thus affirming the principle of splitting up the four amalgamated city electorates into single constituencies. The remaining clauses of the Electoral Bill were passed, excepting that in regard to electoral rights for women. Primary school buildings were excepted from use for electioneering addresses. On returning to the postponed clauses, the interpretation clause, which granted women the right to vote, was passed without a division ; but I the Hon Sir George Whitemore, who was absent for the few minutes during which the clauses were being put through, threatened to obstruct the consequental clauses line by line, and moved to have progress reported, so that further action could be taken by opponent's or the ex tention of the franchise. After a long discussion the Colonial Secretary's suggestion was adopted, to pass the remain* ing clauses except that in regard to electoral rights to women, and then to report progress, and allow an opportunity next day for members to record their votes on the mam question. September 23. The new clause providing machinery for the exercise of the franchise by women by allowing them to make a declaration and claim for an elector's right, provoked some discussion. Sir. Patrick Buckley intimated that he could not accept the new clause. Sir George Whitmore, in a lengthj speech, opposed the clause. On a division the clause was agreed tc by 13 to §. Clause 68 (providing for the issue oi women's electoral rights) and Clause 6£ (compelling women to produce the righl when voting) were agreed to without a division. The Hon. Mr Oliver moved a new clause, dividing the amalgamated city electorates of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin each into three electoral districts. This was agreed to by 12 to 7. The Bill was then reported, the third reading being made the order of the daj for Tuesday.