PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2262, 2 July 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

[FBBBa ASSOCIATION TSLEGBASI.j HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Feiday, Jtn.Tr 1. The House met at 2 30 p.m. SECOND BEADING. Mr Stevens moved the second reading of the Church of England in New Zealand Trustees Incorporation and St. Paul's Presbyterian Ohuroh (Christchurch) Bills. Carried. NEW BILL. Sir G. Qeet gave notice that he would introduce a Bill to regulate the admission of parties to the practice of law. DB. POLLEN’S PENSION. Mr Stevens brought up the public accounts committee re;-ort on the pension of Dr. Pollen, which was ordered to be cancelled on Thursday next. The report was a* follows : “ That in awarding a pension of £4lB 15s a year to Dr. Pollen, and paying that pension from the 30th October, 1876, the Government acted according to the weight of opinion given by the Crown law officers, and even paid £1391 12s 6d less than the Audit Department were willing to pass as legally due to Dr. Pollen. The committee are, however, of opinion that the Crown law officers and Civil servants of the colony have pnt the most favorable interpretation on doubtful points in thia’claim'for pension, and underrated circumstances which appear to make the claim of doubtful legality. The committee think it is open to grave doubt whether Dr. Pollen was entitled to reckon for the purposes cf of his pension the time during which he held a seat in the Executive Council, without pay or portfolio. The committee are also of opinion that the promise made by Sir J. Vogel that the sum of £3OO paid to Dr. Pollen as paymaster of the Imperial pensions should be included in the calculation for the purposes of the pension, was one which it was beyond the lawful authority of any Minister to make and subversive of due Parliamentary authority and control. The committee consider that [any case of the above nature which may in itself be reasonable, but is surrounded by legal difficulties, should be submitted to Parliament for decision.” QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Macdonald, The Hon. J. Hall said that Government would consider the propriety of arranging sittings of the Supreme Court twice a year at Gisborne. REGULATION OF ELECTIONS BILL. The House went into committee on the Regulation of Elections Bill. Clause 6 was amended so as to read “ provided such change be notified in one or more newspapers circulating in the district at least seven clear days before the day of polling.” Clause 9, Dr. Wallis moved that the provision for taking all polls on the one day bo struck out. The House divided on the question that the clause remain as printed. Ayes, 28 ; noes, 22. Clause 10, Mr Wood moved that instead of ten days being 'allowed between the date of nomination and the poll the number of days be not more than five and not less than three. The amendment was negatived. Clause 11, written nomination. Mr Saundebs moved that it be struck out. The House divided on the question that it stand as printed. Ayes, 23 ; noes, 24. The amendment was carried. The following is the division list: Ayes—Messrs Allwright, Bain, Beetham, Fisher, J. B. (Buller), Fisher, J. T. (Heathcote), George, Sir Q. Grey, Messrs Hirst, H. (Wallace), Hutchison, Johnston, Levin, Maoandrew, McDonald, Montgomery, Murray, Pitt, Beeves, Eeed, Richardson, Shepherd, Shrimski, Stevens, Weston. Noes —Messrs Bastings, Bowen, Bryce, Oolbeob, Collins, Gibbs, Hamlin, Hursthouse, Kelly, Levistam, Moss, Bussell, Saunders, Seddon, Speight, Studholme, Sutton, Swanson, Thomson, Trimble, Turnbull, Wallace, Wood, Wright. eveningTsitiing. The House resumed at 7.30. REGULATION OF ELECTOB3 BILL. Clauses 12,13,14 and 15 were struck out on the understanding that they would be remodelled in conformity with the alterations in the context. Clause 16—An amendment by Mr Bastings that the poll open at 6 a.m. instead of 9 am. was lost on the voices. On behalf of Mr Barron, who was absent, a further amendment was moved—“ That the poll close at 8 instead of 6.” The House divided, on the question that the clause as printed be passed—ayes, 33; noes, 18. Clause 28—Mr Montgombb? moved aa amendment affirming the principle of allowing no person to exorcise more than one vote.

After considerable further discussion the committee divided, Mr Montgomery’s amendment being negatived by 28 to 23. The following is the division list: — Ayes—Messrs Bastings,‘De Lautoar, J. B. Fisher (Buller), J. T. Fisher (Heathcote), George, Sir O. Grey, Messrs Hutchinson, Maoandrew, McDonald, Montgomery, Moss, Pyke, Beeves, Beid, Seddon, Shephard, Shrimski, Speight, Thomson, Tole, Trimble, Turnbull, Weston. Noes—Messrs Allwright, Bain, Beetham, Bowen, Bryce, Oolbeck, Collins, Sir W. Fox, Messrs Gibbs, Hall, H. Hirst (Wallace), Hursthouse, Johnston, Kelly, Levestam, MoOaughan, Pitt, Richardson, Bussell, Stevens, Studholme, Sutton, Swanson, Wakefield, Wallis, Whitaker, Wood, Wright, Pairs Ayes Messrs Barron, Harris, Andrews, Jones, Stewart, Brown, Finn, Ballance, Gisborne, Bunny, Tawhaio, Tairoa, Noes—Messrs Fulton, Oliver, Dick, Mason, McLean, Brandon, Levin, Atkinson, Belleston, Shanks, Whyte, Kenny. Clause 29—Numbering voting papers. Mr Hutchison moved that the clause be struck out. The amendment was negatived on the voices. Clause 34. Mr Montgomery moved that the clause be altered so as to strike out the proviso preventing anyone voting for more than two candidates in districts returning three members. The amendment was negatived on the voices, and the clause passed as printed. The rest of the clauses up to 58 were passed with verbal amendments in one or two cases. Progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 12.15.