THE SECOND BALLOT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2311, 2 October 1908, Page 3

THE SECOND BALLOT.

THE “GAG” CLAUSE DROPPED. [Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. A meeting of the managers appointed by the two Houses to deal with the disagreement on the Second Ballot Bill was held this evening. The conference agreed to recommend that clause 19, the “gag” clause, be struck out, and that other amendments made by the Legislative Council, including the deletion of the 500 majority proviso, be agreed! to. At 11.30 p.m. the Premier reported to the House the result of the conference.

Mr. 'Massey commented on the change of front of the Government. “Wo have had a good many surprises,” lie said, “and a good many changes of front during the present session, but wliat had just taken place is the greatest surprise of all.” He chaffed the' Premier and his two tquircs who had gone forth so valiantly to do battle against the Upper Koussi, but had come back crestftillem H© was, however, glad- the “gag” clause had been abandoned. It was on iniquitous clause. Though the Bill was a bad one, lie thought good might come of it, for it might lead to proportional representation. Sr Joseph Ward, in reply, said they would now have an opportunity ot testing the second ballot. As to proportional representation, he pointed out that if the electorates were tripled in size, as suggested, candidates would have great difficulty in placing their views before the people. ouch an enlargement of the electorates would be retrogressive and conservative. He preferred the present position to losing the Bill altogether.