GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 644, 12 July 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

* (From a correspondent of the Press?) HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 11. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30. TIMAHU GAS BILL. On the motion of Mr Rollbston the Timaru Gas, Coke, and Coal Company's Bill was read a second time. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. On Mr Dignan’s motion, leave of absence was granted to Mr Rees for a fortnight, on urgent private business. QUESTIONS. Tne following questions were put—1. Mr O’Rorke asked the Colonial Treasurer whether the Government will, in compliance with the report of the petition committee last year, take steps towards paying the award made by the late Mr Beckham, on the claim of John Fahy, for losses sustained during the war of 1863. 2. Mr R. Wood asked the Native Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to appoint a commission to inquire into the feasibility of the suggestions made by Mr R. Soall of Auckland upon the subject of musketry instruction, as requested by him in his letter received by Colonel Moule at the Native Office, 18th June, 1876. 3. Mr De Latour asked the Minister for Lands (1) What items of revenue are included ** in the ordinary” goldfields “ revenue from each field,” exclusive of the gold duty to be banded to local governing bodies for expenditure ? (2) Is it the intention of the Government to create local governing bodies to which the goldfields revenue is to be paid, in addition to the county councils ? 4. Mr Kennedy asked the Native Minister (1) If his Excellency the Governor, as trustee for the native reserves at Greymouth has power 1 to sell any portion of such reserve 2 to grant leases for a period of sixty-six or ninety-nine years ? (2) If so, if he will recommend that leasees be enable to participate in such provisions? (3) If no such authority exist, will be at an early dat introduce a Bill with the view of conferring on his Excellency the Governor power as above referred to ? 5. Mr THOMSON asked the Colonial Treasurer whether he has any objection to prepare with the view of being printed, a table similar to the first table on page 1 of the financial statement of last year, showing the exact condition of the loans as they stood on 30th June last ? 6. Mr Seaton asked the Minister for Lands if the Government are aware that many claims under The Volunteer Land Act, 1865, are still unsatisfied, and if so if they intend to take any steps towards the settlement of the same ? 7. Mr Burn asked the Commissioner of Customs <1) What further steps have been taken by the Government towards erection of a light and* signal station on the Snares ? (2) If the Government are aware that the relative positions of the various islands and rocks called the Shares are not correctly laid down on existing charts? (8) When there is a probability of the erection of a lighthouse on Capa Saunders being proceeded with ?

Replica were given aa follows (I.) That the Governmentdid not consider Mr Beckham had made an award ; that the claim was one that was barred by the decision of the House and that the Government did not propose to take any steps in regard to it. (2) That the letter had been acknowledged by the Under Secretary for Defence, and the matter was under the consideration of the Government. 3. The items were those detailed in clausa 16 of the Abolition Act, exempting agricultural leases. The Government did not intend to propose to create any local bodies other than counties, which wore the bodies referred to, to which it was proposed to hand over the goldfields revenue. They hoped these counties would be so fixed as to size and boundaries aa to give to the mining interest within them fair representation and weight. 4. The persons interested in the matter had been consulted with a view to bring in a measure that would meet the requirements of the settlers and the native owners of land, 5. The return would be prepared, fi. Persons entitled to land grants would stand in the same position as they did before Abolition. 7. Little encouragement bad been received from the Imperial Government that they would be willing to contribute towards the coat of erecting a - light on the Snares, and when an answer was received from home it would be time enough for this colony to consider whether or not it should undertake the erection of the light. The Government had no reason to believe that Captain Drury's survey was incorrect, bat if a steamer was going that way would take steps to ascertain whether it was. When the other important works were completed this light would be taken in hand. first readings. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time-Wellington Harbor Board (Mr Hunter), North Otago Harbor Bill (Mr Shrimski), Patea River Hrrbor Board (Major Atkinson), LOCAL ELECTIONS BILL. The House then went into committee on the Regulation of Local Elections Bill. On clausa 3, Sir J. Vogel moved the addition of the following words after the word “or" in the 38th line “on the request of the local body.” Mr Stout pointed out that the whole aim of the measure introduced by the Government, viz, uniformity, was defeated by the amendment, and the Bill would become like so much waste paper. Sir J. Vogel said it was never intended to make it compulsory, the intention being th«t the Governor should only bring the Bill into operation at the request of the local body. . On clause 8, Mr Manders moved the omission of the word? “ rjo member of the

Local Board shall act as Returning Officer,” pointing out that at present members of Councils and Boards acted as such with advantage. The amendment was negatived on the voices.

On clause 9, Mr Stout suggested that it should be made imperative on the clerk of the local body to give notice to the Returning Officer of the dates of an ordinary election. Sir J. Vogel said the Government would consider the suggestion, and if thought desirable, he would introduce a clause when the Bill was recommitted: On clause 14, thb words “ and one of the electors who signed the paper nominating him,” in line twenty-nine, were struck out. Mr Whitaker also moved the substitution of “on any day ” for “ not later than two days,” which was negatived.

On clause 15 Mr Burns moved the extension of the polling hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Mr Lusk thought the provision unwieldy, and that it should be left to local bodies themselves to fix hours of polling. He moved accordingly, and that the local bodies should give to the returning officer two clear days’ notice of the time so fixed. Mr WASON suggested that there should be added to the member for Franklin’s amendment, “ That the poll shall not be kept open less than six hours.”

As a compromise, Sir J, Vogel suggested that the hours should be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sir R. Douglas suggested that the returning officer should fix the hour. Mr De Latour characterised the proposed extension to eight as encouraging riot and drinking, Mr Wakefield followed suit, saying it would turn many a country town into a pan demonium.

Mr Stout hoped the Government would press Sir J. Vogel’s suggested amendment, and gave notice that he would move a clause prohibiting the sale of intoxicants within a quarter of a mile of a polling booth on election days, as was the custom in America.

Mr Montgomery suggested that the poll should not be declared until the next day.

Mr Lusk withdrew his amendment in favor of the one by Mr Whitaker, that the poll should be taken during nine hours, and at such hours as the local bodies may fix, of which at least ten days’ notice shall be given; and if the local bodies do not give such notice, the hours shall be from 6 a.m; to 6 pm. On a division, the amendment was negatived by 45 to 26. Mr (Swanson next moved that 10 should ba substituted for 9 o’clock, which was negatived by 40 to 28 An amendment to strike out 6, with the view of inserting 5 o’clock, was negatived, and the clause stands from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

It is found that Mr Stout’s Local Option Bill must originate in committee, and tomorrow he will move accordingly. Two petitions from Good Templars in Dunedin in its favor were presented to-day. I hear that, on the motion to go into committee of supply, it will be moved that the estimates be referred back to the Government with the view of reducing them by £ 50,001. On clause 17 of the Local Election Bill, Mr Lusk intends proposing an additional clause, allowing proxies to vote-. Sir G. Grey elects to sit for the Thames.

To morrow Mr Thomson asks a string of questions with reference to the hypothecation of the guaranteed loan.

(Per Press Agency, .) The House resumed at 7. 30, taking up the debate on the Regulation of Local Elections Bill. A long discussion ensued on a number of the clauses, especially with reference to the form of voting, such'as the initialling and numbering of voting papers by the returning officer. It was objected that such a practice destroyed the principal of secret voting, and thgt the electors might as well vote openly at once. Eventually the clause was carried as printed, and all the clauses from 27 to 38 were carried without material alteration.

Mr Stout, objected to the sale of spirituous liquors during the elections, especially in the vicinity of the polling booths. The Premier opposed it, alleging it would only encorage the. illicit sale of liquor, and that the question of total abstinence should bo discussed on its own merits on a future, occasion.

The new clause, moved by Mr Stout, was rejected by a large majority. An additional clause, moved by Mr Whitaker, which prevented the Supreme Court shutting out the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, was carried. The Bill was reported, and the amendments ordered to be considered on Thursday. Sir G. Grey then moved, “ That the resolution of the House to the effect that he should, on Tuesday, make his election, as to which district he should sit for, be rescinded.”

This led to a long discussion. Sir G. Grey quoted the practice of the House of Commons, aud asked for a week’s delay to enable him to make up his mind as to which constituency he should represent. A long discussion ensued, some supporting and others opposing the application. It was at length decided by the Speaker that Sir G. Grey should make his election on Friday as to whether he would sit for the Thames or Auckland West; and the House adjourned at 1 a,m.