GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1401, 12 August 1878, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PBS PRESS AGENCY.]

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Friday, August 9. electoral, bill.

In tbe debate on the Electoral Bill Mr Joyce was followed by Mr Delatjtour, who strongly supported the Bill. No doubt it was not perfect, but such a thing as a perfect Bill had never boen known. He argued against Hare's system, as being less likely to benefit the public than the present Bill. Hare's system had the fatal objection that, under it, young men of the colony would never be afforded an opportunity of being brought before the public. Under it they could never expect to see such young Ministers in office as now graced the Government benches, and he and manv others were proud to see them there. He taunted the late Government with having neglected their opportunity when in office to bring down a measure of electoral reform, and they should not now oppose the present Government, because it had the honesty and manliness to grapple with the question. If the proposals embodied in the Bill of the member for Waikato were adopted the effect would be that only men who had made their mark —such as the member for Waikato and member for New Plymouthwould be elected. But it was necessary that the young should have a chance, because they could not expect to have the aged always wMx them, and more especially now as they no longer had the political nurseries of provincial institutions.

Mr Wason supported the enfranchisement of women as a good feature in tbe Bill, but he objected to the further enfranchisement of Maoris as being unfair to their European fellow subjects. Both races should be placed upon an equal footing. He entirely concurred in the abolition of the miners' right vote.

Mr Wakefield took strong exception to the Bill, as it was not what the colony had been led to expect from the stump speeches of the Premier, who was never tired of tolling them that he should get manhood suffrage, and that no one man should have more than one vote. Yet this Bill perpetuated the very worst feature of the present system by allowing a plurality of votes. Why! he knew of several districts in the colony, the elections of which could be carried by the absentees' votes, who had only to put in an appearance by train. In one place of not more than 700 inhabitants there were nearly double that number of voters. This failing to keep promises induced a feeling of distrust in all Government measures. Mr Moss said if the Bill did not quite meet the views of tho House, why not amend it in committee, and not draw a red herring across the scent. This, he considered, was what the Bill of the membor for Waikato would do. He was opposed to Hare's system as destructive of all political life, and only calculated to create a Parliament composed of whimsicalities. Still, he thought Hare's system could be applied to municipal government beneficially, as only questions relating to property were discussed in those places. Sir Geobge Grey moved the adjournment of the debate till Tuesday next. Tho House rose at 11.40.