PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 48, 25 August 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

1 WOMEN'S FRANCHISE. THE SECOND READING CARRIED. Legislative Council, (per press association). Wellington, August 24. The Council met at 2 30. Mr Stewart resumed the debate on the | second reading of the Electoral Bill, and 1 said, as before, he would support the Bill in its entirety, Dr. Pollen supported the Bill. Women, in his opinion, were not only entitled to the franchise, but also qualified for seats in the Legislature. Dr. Grace opposed the clause for the enfranchisement of women, chiefly on the ground that their systems were too complex to stand the strain attendant upon the excitement of elections. Mr Kerr vigorously opposed the emancipation of women, whose place was in their own homes, and relieving the sick and nfllicted, rather than engaging in the turmoil of politics. Mr Jennings supported the clause for the enfranchisement of women. Mr Rigg considered the time had not coma for passing the measure to confer the franchise on women, and spoke strongly against the principle of woman's franchise. Mr McLean opposed the granting of women franchise. Sir Patrick Buckley having replied, the second reading was carried on the voices, its committal being set down for to-morrow. The Council rose at 9.50 p.m.

Housk of Representatives. The House met at 2.30. Mr It. Thompson brought up a report on the ciairus of old soldiers, and moved it be referred to Government for consideration. A Jong debate enßtied, several members urging that the claims of these men should receive more attention from Government. Eventually the debate was adjourned until tomorrow. Mr Eariuhaw moved the adjournment of the House to enable him to refer to a personal matter. He said from the moment he entered the Honae till the present time he claimed to have been a loyal and consistant supporter of the Government. Consequently he was : much suprised on Friday last to learn from the Government \Vhip that he (Earnshaw) should be excluded from the Whip's room, and from the Government party. It was evident to him that Government wished to have a servile following with no mind of its own. He intended to fight the next election in Dunedin alone He declined the support of Government in that contest and he felt pretty certain he should come out at the top of the poll. Mr C. H. Mills (Government Whip) referred to a remark made by Mr Earn* shaw on one occasion, which induced him to stigmatise the member for Peninsula us an independent member. Fie did not think Mr Earnshaw was justified in saying Government wished to have a servile following. Mr Reeves gave his version of the matter of which he had a difference with . Mr Earnshaw. Mr J. W. Kelly emphatically denied that a labor meeting was called for the purpose of passing a vote of confidence in the Minister for Labor. ( Mr O'Conor moved the second reading > of the Alien's Act Amendment Bill to , make further provision regarding aliens. In the course of the debate which followed much reference was made to the hold the Chinese were obtaining in the i colony, and several members expressed the opinion that steps would soon have to be taken to cope with the evil. The Premier said as the Bill opened up the question of international law and also involved Imperial interests, it should ' not be allowed to pass. The House was counted out at 9 p.m., while the Premier was speaking.