HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 10, 12 July 1894, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. Sir Robert Stout moved a committee be appointed to enquire how eection 2 1 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, 1893, was made retrospective. He charged the Premier with having deliberately planned this clause so as to affuct litigation that, was pending in the iSydenham district. Mr Seddon opposed the motion, which he thought was entirely uncalled for. The clause hnd been inserted in the Bill in the ordinary way and •irßoner Stout's charge was abeolutely without foundation. The mo tiou negatived by 39 to 17. The Housejrjso at 5.30 p.m. Mr Guinness' Bill to enable a jury in v criminal caso to return a .-cotch verdict of •• not proven " was read a second time. Dr Newman moved the second reading of the Bill to admit women to the General Assembly of New Zealand. Cnptaiu Russell opposed the BilL Mr Keeves supported the principle of the Bill, but even if carried he did not think they would see any women in the House for years to come. After an interesting debate a divi siou of the second reading resulted in a tie— Ayes, 28; Noes, 28. The Speaker said the women of New Zealand had behaved so well in the exercise of the franchise conferred on them by ihe last Parliament that he felt it his duty to confer the highest privilege on them he should therefore give his casting vote for the " Ayes " in favour of the Bill and declared the second reading carried. The recommendation of the Reporting Debates Committee, that no speeches of members be reported after midnight was opposed by the Premier and others, the debate eventually being adjourned. The remainder of the sitting was occupied in consideration of the Amended Standing Orders, The House rose at 12 25.