GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1790, 15 November 1879, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Ebiday, November 14. In reply to Taiaroa, Mr Whitaker eaid the Government had already provided for all old and destitute Maoris in the Middle Island. Mr Aoland moved that a now County of Timaru should not be constituted. A long debate followed, and many members were opposed to splitting countries, as likely to foster ill feeling and local rivalry. Mr Holmes said either counties or Hoad Boards should be abolished. The debate was adjourned. Colonel Whitmore moved, and Colonel Brett seconded —“That it is desirable the Council shall be informed of the Government’s intentions re Harbor Defence, and the visit of Colonel Scratohley.” The matter was adjourned till Tuesday. ThePrimitivo Methodists Temporary Affairs Bill, Elections Validation Bill, and District Law Societies Bill were read a third time. The Ashburton Water Supply Bill was read a first time. Nearly the whole sitting was taken up by small discussions of no general interest. The second reading of the Triennial Parliaments Bill was again postponed. The Council rose at 5 p m. HOUSE OE BEPjRESBNTATIYES. Ebiday, November 14. The House met at 2 30. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. Mr Hamlin gave notice to move next sitting day, that a committee be appointed to inquire into and report to the House within two weeks, on the most suitable and least expensive plan for erecting railway workshops for the provincial district of Auckland. Mr Shbimski asked the Government whether the Borough Councils of Timaru, Lyttelton, Lawrence, end Wellington obtain the benefit of prison labor, and if so, whether the various corporations above mentioned are charged with the cost of same or any part thereof; if not, why it is made a condition to Oamaru corporation obtaining the benefit of prison labor, that they should pay the coat of the warder. Mr Bollbston said Oamaru would not be made an exception to other places in this respect. The employment of prison labor involved extra expense, and that would be charged at Oamaru. Mr Bain asked the Government if they will make provision for the registry of mining companies at Invercargill. The Premier said the registration was done at the Supreme Court of the colony. Mr Sutton asked the Commissioner of Telegraphs whether the Government will cause a lineman’s station to bo erected at Mahia, Hawke’s Bay. The Premier said he could not give a definite answer until he had mode enquiries into

the subject. Ho would make the necessary enquiry. Mr Sutton asked the Government whether they have received any reports from Sir J. Ooodo on tho harbors at Napier, Wairoa, and Hawke’s Bay, and it so, whether they will lay them before tho House ? Mr Olives said; no reports had been received, but they were expected in a few weeks.

Mr Reid asked the Government if they will lay before the House a copy of Sir John Coodo’s report on Hokitika harbor ? Mr Olivee said the members of that Harbor Board had access to tho report, and it was proposed to lay all reports on the table and ask that they bo printed. The plans wore too elaborate to accompany the reports. Mr Toib asked tho Minister for Public Works when ho would inform the House of tho Hon. Mr Whitaker’s determination in relation to the Newmarket workshops. Ho had asked the question twice before, but received no satisfactory answer. Mr Olives said he was sure the hon. member would not wish to force the Government to come to a conclusion without propsr enquiry. Ho would have an answer to the question when the Public Works Statement was laid before the House, and he hoped the hon. member would wait till then.

Leave was given to introduce tho following Bills :—Mr Richardson, Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1875, Amendment Bill ; Mr Thomson, Bill to Regulate the Width of Streets and Roads; Mr Rolleston, Reserves Sale Bill; Mr Rolleston, Special Powers and Contracts Bill. On the motion of the Psemiee, it was resolved—“ That the House at rising adjourn till 7 30 on Monday.” Tho Peemieb stated that the Colonial Treasurer hoped to be able at that time to lay before the House his financial statement. QUALIFICATION OF ELECTOBS’ BILL.

The Peemieb moved—“ That the report on tho Qualification of Electors Bill be agreed to.” Ho hoped the Bill would pass its third reading without delay. Mr Ptkb moved —“That the Bill bo recommitted,” Mr Moss supported the amendment. Mr Thomson contended that women should have a vote by virtue of their womanhood, if at all, and not because they possessed a £25 freehold for six months prior to registration. Mr Lundon took tho same view. Mr Gbobob considered universal suffrage of women was intended, and not a mere freehold qualification. The latter would give rise to division of the property of tho wealthy in order to qualify their women friends. Mr Kelly said hs qui e agreed with those who said it was understood the Bill was to bo recommitted. Mr Moss pointed out that it was unfair to exclude Maoris from participation in tho benefit of the Act. The Peemieb said ho had suggested that the Bill should be passed through Committee, after the first clause had been recommitted, but ho objected to the recommittal of the whole Bill, because so much time wold bo lost. Mr SPBiaHT hoped the Bill would not be recommitted, and time wasted for nothing. Mr Stewaet said there were several defects in the Bill calling for its recommittal. Several other members supported tho recommittal. Mr Olivbb deprecated the waste of time over every clause of this Bill. Sir Q. Gbby said the object of the last speaker and mover was not to make this House a reflex of the country, but of mo.iey. Mr Wakefield supported at some length the adopting of the report, and charged Sir G. Grey with inconsistency in several points in connection with it, the chief of which, he alleged, was his former support of the property qualification. A division was then taken on tho adoption of the report, with tho following result— Ayes, 30; noos, 34. The following is tho division list:— Ayes—3o. Messrs Bain Messrs Oliver Boetham Pitt Bowen Rolleston Brandon Saunders Bryce Seymour Colbeck Stevens Gibbs Sutton Hall Tomoana Hursthonse Trimble Johnston Wakefield Levin Wallis Mason Willis Masters Wood McLean Wright Murray Bichardson Noes— 34. Messrs Aliwright • Messrs Maoandrew Andrews Moss Ballanco Pyke (teller) Barron Reeves DeLautour Reid Dick Seddon J. B. Fisher Shephard J. T. Fisher Shrimski George (teller) Gisborne Speight Sir G. Grey Stewart Messrs Hamlin Swanson Hislop Tainui Hutchison Tawhai Ireland Te Wheoro Kelly Thomson Lundon Tola The question of recommittal was about to be put, when Mr Bowen moved—“ That tho words ‘ for tho purpose of discussing sub section 1 of section 2,’ bo added.” The Premise supported the addition. Mr Moss urged that the whole Bill should he recommitted. Mr Seddon supported the amendment of tho member for Kaiapoi. Mr Hamlin strongly supported Maori rights, and announced his intention of opposing the Bill in every stage unless tho Maoris had fair representation. The amendment of the member for Kaiapoi was then put, and a division called for. The result was—Ayes 37, noes 22. On the question of recommittal of tho Bill, Mr Hislop moved an amendment to add the words “ the reconsideration on subsection 4 of clause 2, Maori freehold qualification.” A division was taken, the result being— Ayes, 24 ; noes, 37. On the question being put, Dr Wallis moved an amendment to add the words — “ for reconsideration of sub-section 2 of clause 2, residential qualification,” which was negatived on the voices without division. Tho recommittal of the Bill for tho consideration of sub section 1 of clause 2 was then put and carried on tho voices. On recommittal, Mr MontoOMEEY moved that sub-section 1 bo altered so as to make it road that—“ Every person shall bo subject to tho provision that he shall not have more than one vote.” The discussion was adjourned at 5,30.

EVENING- SITTING-. ELECTIONEERING TELEGRAMS. On the House resuming, Mr Sheehan obtained permission to make a statement re the telegrams referred to in the debate of the previous evening. He said he had heard the contents of a private telegram he had sent outside the House, and found it had been copied from the batch of telegrams laid on the table by the Premier, and then withdrawn on the previous afternoon. He had with him his telegram copybook, and found it was a private message which he had forwarded. Ho intended *to] take legal proceedings against the Premier, although ho feared he would first have to proceed against some officer of the department, and he took this opportunity of warning these who had been discussing the messages outside the House. Mr Hutchison presumed that the Premier, if he gave instructions, would bo the responsible person. The Premier said he was responsible only for the orders ho gave. Mr Wakefield thought one member had no right to make such a statement ae ho had, opening up the whole subject again after it had boon referred to a committee. J Mr Shrimski thought Mr Sheehan was to bo commended for mentioning the matter in order to warn thoae who talked about the contents of the telegram in question. Sir Q-. Grey said ho did not agree with the statement of the member for Geraldine. The honor of a member of the House was at stake, and it was in the hands of the House, and to say that no mention ehould bo made of it in the House was monstrous. He considered that the committee was a partial one. The names of Messrs Wakefield and Saunders ought not to have been put on it, and ho believed the Government insisted upon thoae names going on the committee. Mr Wakefield said his name had been inserted without his knowledge or consent. Mr MACANDBEW said he had accepted the names because he feared any objection to them would endanger the adoption of the motion for a Committee.

Mr Hisi.op suggested that tho telegrams should be destroyed, to prevent any further breach of secrecy.

Mr Reeves said the mischief had been done already in the hon. members for Waikouaiti and Napier taking copies of the telegrams, and it would bo unfair now to stop any inquiry. The Phemieh said he had given instructions to lave the telegrams revised by the Department, in or.ier to ascertain if any of them had been paid for before transmission, and to withdraw such from the telegrams now in the hands of the Speaker. Mr Sbddon hoped the Premier would undertake to withdraw such of the messages as were private, and only allow Government telegrams on election subjects to go before the committee. Mr Hutchison said the Premier told them on previous evening that he was solely responsible for the conduct of the Telegraph Department, and to-night he said ho was only responsible for the orders ho had given, and nothing more. He would like to know which was correct.

The Pbemieb rose to reply, but was ruled out cf order.

Mr Toib said it was the duty of the Premier to have gone through the telegrams, and oh finding they were private he should have declined to produce them. Mr Sheehan said he had no intention to raise any debate in making the explanation he did. Ho was prepared to abide by the decision of the Committee in the matter, but he had heard the member for Napier repeat a telegram outside which he had seen on the table of the House, and which had been withdrawn by the Speaker’s order. Ho remonstrated with him and warned him of the risks he ran, but that had no effect, and therefore he mentioned the matter in the House as a warning to tho member for Napier and others. Tho member for Cheviot askel for copies of telegrams on election matters sent by the Government, and tho reply was the production of the telegrams sent by and sent to Ministers, some of which were of a private character. The custom of the Telegraph Department had been when Ministers were absent from a place to transmit the messages received to the station nearest to the locality where the Ministers were at the time, and although they might be paid for in tho first instance, they were retransmitted at the Government expense, and without any direction from Ministers. It would bo found that several of these messages were private, and of such a nature. The subject then dropped. QUAUIBICATION OP EUECTOHS. The House resumed in committee on the Qualification of Electors Bill. An amendment, by Mr Montgomery, that clause 2, Bub-secliorjl, bo altered so as to provide that no person have his name on more than one roll in the colony was put and a division taken, with the following result: — Ayes, 22 ; nces, 29. Mr Pvkb moved that the word “ person ” in tho first subsection of tho second clause be struck out, and the word “ man ” be substituted. A divison was taken on the question of the word “ person ” standing part of the question. Tho result was as follows : —Ayes, 22 ; noes, 31. Tho word “ person ” was struck out, and the question “ that the word man stand part of tho question ” was put and carried on tho voices.

The following is the division list : Ayes—22. Messrs Bain Messrs Oliver Ballanco Pitt Beetham Saunders DoLatour Shrimski Ball Speight (toller) Hesloo Trimble Hurstbouse "Wakefield Johnston "Wallis (teller) T.undon Willis Macandrew "Wright Murray Noes—3l. Messrs Allwright Messrs Kenny Barron Mason Bowen Masters Brandon McLean Brycs Pyke (teller) Colbeck Reid Dick Eiehardson Fisher, J. T. Eolleaton George Seddon Gibbs Stevens Gisborne Stewart Sir George Grey Sntton Messrs Hamlin Swanson Kelly Mr Thomson then moved—“ That the value of the freehold be reduced from £25 to £10.” A division was called for on the question " that the sum of £25 stand part of the clause,” but on the Chairman putting the question, it was declared lost on the voices. The clause as amended was then submitted to the vote, and a division taken, with the following result: —Ayes, 32, nocs 20. The Bill as amended was then read a third time and passed. EBGIBTBATION OP ELECTOBS BILL. The Registration of Electors Bill was then committed. Several members asked that the Redistribution of Seats Bill be brought down before proceeding to consider this, Mr Maoandbew said if they were not to have a Redistribution of Seats Bill it mattered little whether thero was any discussion on this Bill or not. They might as well pass it at once, and have done with it. The Pbemieb said this Bill and the one just passed, together with the Triennial Parliaments Bill, were really liberal measures, and far more liberal than any promoted by their predecessors. Mr Stbvvabt asked the Government to give a pledge to bring down the Redistribution of Seats Bill.

Mr Tijbnbull said ho hoped the House would not grant its support until this pledge had been given. Mr Swanson .hoped the Q-ovornment would Tt ring down the Bill. Mr Sbddon hoped the Bill before the House would be proceeded with without reference to any other Bill. The Pebmieb said the re-distribution of seats was a simple question of time. Whether it would bo done this session or not would depend upon the progress made with the Bills now before the House, As soon as the Government saw their way in this respect information would bo given to the House as to whether the re-distribution of seats would be attempted this session. A measure of that kind ‘would take one or two weeks to pass, but it was not at all clear that this time could be spared. He doubted whether members were sincere in their professions with respect to this Bill, but he would take the earliest opporeunity of aunouucing L tho intentions of Minister on the subject. Mr J. T. Fishes said his constituents wanted an additional member and would not be satisfied until they got this redistribution. He hoped the House would insist on the production of the Bill. Dr. Wallis said the best means to secure this Bill was to talk less on the Bills before the House, and allow the work to progress. A motion to report progress on the Bill and and ask leave to sib again, was put and negatived, and the committee proceeded to discuss the clauses seriatim.