PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 489, 30 July 1902, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

By Tolcgraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. The Council met at 2 30. Tho Imprest Supply Bill passed all stages. A motion by tho lion. Leo Smith to afford relief to leaseholders, under tho Rating on Unimproved Values Act, was lost on tho voices.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tho nousc met at 2.30 p.m. Tfie Estimates were further considered. On the vote for the House of Representatives, Mr Laurenson moved the reduction of £l, as an indication that the House disapproves of outside bodies, especially racing bodies, holding meetings in Parliament Buildings during the session. After considerable discussion, the motion was agreed to on tho voices. The House resumed at 7.30.

Trio Estimates were further considered. Mr Ell moved the reduction of ono of the items in tho voto for tho Legislative Department, as an indication that in tho i- union of tho Douse the members of the Upper Chamber should bo elected under tho same franchise as a member of the Popular Chamber. A long debate ensued, in which Sir Joseph Ward contended that this was not an occasion for consideration of so great a constitutional question. Several other membors took tho samo view. Sir Win. Russell said that without reform, tho Upper Houso wo now had was utterly useless. His idea was that for tho purposo of an elective Upper Houso tho colony should bo dividod into two largo oloctoratos, and tho principle of tho Haro systora applied. Midnight.—Mr Ell’s motion was lost by 30 to 20. Tho Colonial Secretary’s Department’s estimates wero thon considered.

Sir Joseph Ward, in reply to questions, said if possible tho troublo about the varying rulings in rogard to licensing polls would be got over by regulation.