PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2306, 25 August 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, August 24. The Council met at 2 30 p.m. The St. Paul’s Church Presbyterian Church Trustees Incorporation Bill was read a third time. Leave for fourteen days on urgent private affairs was given to the Hon. J. Menzies. The Hon. W. Kobinboh withdrew his motion for a return of tho indebtedness of all the local bodies in the colony, a similar return being now in preparation for the Lower House. The Auckland Reserves Exchange and Change of Trust Bill, Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill, and the Waitara Harbor Board Loan Bill were passed through committee. The Pensions Bill and tho Native Reserves Bill were read a second time. The Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE REPRESENTATION BILL, “ stonewalling” the measure. Tho whole of Tuesday night up to 1.30 a.m. on Wednesday was spent over clause 2 of the Representation Bill, the Nelson members, and Messrs Seddon, Bastings, and others “stonewalling” tho Bill, the bell having to be rung every few minutes to get a quorum. Tho nominal question was tho substitution of sixty for ninety-one as the number of members. Mr Seddon spoke upwards of two hours. After 1.30 Mr Levestam spoke for half an hour, and then the Chairman left tho chair tor half an hour. On resuming, Mr Levestam continued reading long extracts. Getting tired he said something about bribery, whereupon to give him breathing time, Mr Pitt called attention to the unparliamentary language. Mr Bastings to help further moved that the words be taken down. Mr Speight made a long serio-comic speech as to the danger to their noble cause by the use of strong language. After some discussion, tho Chairman called on Mr Levestaxs to withdraw the expression, which he did, and having recovered breath he went on speaking until Mr Seddon came to the rescue, complaining of the discourtesy of Ministers in reading instead of attending to what was said. Mr Levestam then asked for a ruling whether sleeping members could be counted to make up a quorum, and tho Chairman ruled in the affirmative. Mr Bastings raised some other point of order, and Mr Levestam leaving the chamber returned speedily with a fresh pile of books. After further speaking he moved that the Chairman leave tho chair, which was lost on a division of 23 to 10. Mr Bastings then made a long speech on the beauties and capabilities of Wakaia, which tho Bill proposed to wipe out. His constituents desired him to resist this in every possible way. He proceeded for a long time, when, after a rest afforded by attention being called to the state of the House, and a quorum being rung for he proceeded to read page on page from a treatise on political economy, making oxpla natory comments as he went on. Another diversion having been made by raising some point of order, Mr Bastings went on again. At last the Hon. Major Atkinson raised the question whether the discussion should not bo limited to clause 2. The Chairman ruled against him, and Major Atkinson then ob jected that Mr Bastings was reading what purported to be hie speech. Mr Bastings defended himself, when his voice failing, Mr Seddon took him to task for lisping out his words like a lady. This giving him a rest, Mr Bastings went on again till 4 20, when Mr Pitt moved that progress be reported. Mr Seddon supported it. Mr Bastings raised a point of order about a member snoring, which he said affected his sensitive organisation. The Hon. Major Atkinson said that Government would not consent to report progress. Ho appealed to the minority now that they had entered their protest not to persist in hopeless obstruction. Mr Pitt replied that they were determined not to allow the clause to pass that sitting. If an adjournment were granted, they would consult, and possibly come to some arrangement. Major Atkinson rejoined that the Government would not allow the minority to rule. Mr Hursthouse urged the Government to consent to the adjournment, as they were fighting their own best friends. On a division, the motion to report progress was lost by 22 to 8. Mr Gibbs said that their reasonable request for a truce being refused, they must keep up the fight. At 5.10, Major Atkinson moved that Mr Seymour be relieved from the chair, and that Mr Hamlin take it, which was agreed to. Mr Pitt said ho would not have made the overture he did had he been aware, as now informed, that the Government had threatened that the action of the Nelson members would weigh when the estimates came on. . Major Atkinson denied that any such threat was ever made. Mr Wakefield said that tho Nelson members had his sympathy in the bold stand made in defence of what they deemed their rights. He saw no good to be gained by adjourning, but as they seemed determined to go on, ho would keep up the debate till they had time to refresh themselves. He spoke till six o’clock, when another motion to report progress was rejected by 22 to 7. Mr Seddon and Mr Pitt kept things up till 6 30, when Mr Bastings suggested half-an hour’s adjournment, which the Chairman declined. Another motion to report progress was then lost by 22 to 7, and a quorum had several times to be rung for. The talking was kept up by Mr Shephard and Mr Levestam, and at 8.30 Mr Seddon appealed to Mr Seymour, who was again in the chair, to adjourn for half-an-hour for breakfast. There were loud cries of “ No,” and the Chairman refused to do so. Mr Seddon continued speaking for about two hours, when Mr Pitt and then Mr Levestam relieved him, several motions to report progress being negatived by numbers ranging from 20 upwards against 5. Mr Seddon said he was of opinion that Mr Bryce, who had relieved Mr Seymour, was not properly constituted chairman, and moved that he now leave the chair for the purpose of referring the matter to the Speaker. The motion wes negatived on the voices. At one o’clock this (Wednesday) afternoon a motion by Mr Reeves to report progress was negatived by 29 to 19. The discussion proceeded till a late hour in the afternoon, when tho question that the words in the first line of clause 2 be struck out, with the view of inserting the word “ at" was negatived on the voices. The further amendment proposed on clause 2, that 91 be struck out with the view of inserting 60, was next put, 91 being put as standing part of the clause. The House divided Ayes, 40; noes, 24. Mr Gibbobne moved as a further amendment the addition of the following as a proviso—“ Provided that 45 members shall be given to the North Island, and 46 to the South Island.”

Sir GK Geet moved that progress be reported. Ho did so in no hostile spirit, but simply with the view of approaching the question with a calm mind. On a suggestion, the motion for reporting progress was withdrawn. The Hon. J. Hail opposed the motion, contending that the alteration proposed would strike at the root of the representative principle just affirmed, Mr Btjssbll supported the motion, eon tending that the preponderance proposed by the clause as it stood would be most unfair to the North. So long as the Legislature preserved its characteristic of a Board of Works it was more than ever necessary to adjust the balance of power on an equitable basis. Mr Sutton adopted an opposite view, contending that the alteration proposed would have the effect of killing the Bill if adopted.

Mr Beandon thought the Bill very wrong in principle, and would vote against it. The question was put that tho words proposed be added to the clause. Ayes, 19; Noes, 45. Division list : Ayes Messrs Oolbeck, Oollins, George, Gibbs, Gisborne, Hamlin, Harris, W. J. Hurst (Auckland West), Hursthouse, Levestam, Pitt, Russell, Speight, Swanson, Tole, Wallis, Weston, Whitaker, Wood.

Nobs —Messrs Allwright, Andrews, Barror, Bastings, Beotham, Bowen, Brandon, Brown, Bryce, Bunny, De Lautour, Dick, Driver, Finn, J. B. Fisher (Bailor), J. T. Fisher (Heathootc), Sir W. Fox, Messrs Fulton, Hall, H. Hirst (Wallace), Hutchison, Johnston, Jones, Kenny, Levin, Macandrew, Me Oaughan, McDonald, Montgomery, Oliver, Pyke, Beeves, Richardson, Rolleston, Shanks, Shephard, Stevens, Stewart, Studholme, Sutton, Thomson, Trimble, Turnbull, Wakefield, Whyte.

Mr Letebtam moved as a further proviso the words—“ Provided that no borough in which the leat of Government for the colony is situated shall have any representation.” The question was put that the addition be made to the clause. Ayes, 14 ; noes, 49. Mr Skddon moved that progress be reported. The House divided. Ayes, 12 ; noes, 44. Clause 2 was then put and carried. -

, Sir G. Gbhy moved that progress be reported.

The Hon. J. Hall said they would only consent to the adjournment on the understanding that the stonewalling process had come to an end. They would decline if it was simply to enable members to recruit for renewing the operation. Sir Q-. Gbby said that he believed that there was some provocation for stonewalling. However, ho desired to raise no party question. He could give no promise, but so far as ho was concerned no unnecessary obstruction would be thrown in the way. Mr Bastings said he had still an amendment to move, and having done so he would leave the matter in the hands of the House. Mr Pitt said ho felt bound to take the course he had done in deference to a strong expression of opinion from his constituency. In the face of the large majority against him he felt constrained to give way, and say it was best to offer no further obstruction. If the adjournment was agreed to, the Opposition members would have an opportunity for consulting, and he had hopes that an amicable understanding would be come to. Mr Seddon declined to give any such pledge, announcing his determination to discuss every clause, and act in the matter as he thought right. He charged the Premier with having a tyrannical majority at his back, and using it.

Mr Gibbs also announced his determination to deal with tho Bill as he might see fit. He would oppose every clause. Mr Tawhai said that a meeting of the Auckland members had been held, at which it was resolved to oppose the Bill as unfair to tho North Island, He was astonished to find these very men going into the lobbies and voting for tho Bill. Bo denounced the deception thus practised. Mr Hubbthousb appealed to the Government to consent to progress being reported. Mr Lundon said all that Government was asked to concede was an hour's postponement. It was not worth while insisting upon tho adjournment, more especially when such a promise was to be exacted.

Sir G. Gbby was sorry that Government had refused a reasonable request, and would accept with pleasure tho challenge Government had given, and would be prepared to fight out the cause into which they had been forced by the uncompromising conduct of the Government. Mr Russell said that the Government having shown its strength, should now show its magnanimity. Colonel Tbimblb thought it the motion was withdrawn, it would be a graceful act on tho part of the Government to accede to an adjournment till 7.30. The House was evidently in a state of irritation. The Hon. J. Hall said he would be prepared to follow the course suggested. The question for reporting progress was put—Ayes, II; noes, 43. The chairman then left tho chair until 8 o’clock. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 8 o’clock. POINTS OF OBDEB.

Mr Finn drew attention to the standing order, providing that unless otherwise ordered the House shall shall sit each day at 2.30 p.m., and he quoted from May’s Parliamentary Practice to show that a debate in committee could not be allowed to take precedence of the sitting of the House as had been done that day. Mr Setmoub thought it might have been more proper to have reported progress, so as to allow the sitting of the House as directed at 2,30. The Speaker elected however, not to take the chair, as the committee was sitting. Mr Skddon rose to another point of order. He complained that the chairman had that day at five o’clock left the chair until eight, which was contrary to rule. Mr Seyxiodb said it was customary for the chairman to leave the chair a little before 5,30 when convenient to the House, and he did so in accordance with that rule. Mr Sbddon was about to remonstrate further, when the Chairman pointed out that the point could not be further contested, and Mr Seddon intimated he would table a motion on the subject. BEPBBBENTATION Bill. The Representation Bill was further considered in committee. Clause 3—Mr Olitbb proposed that the clause be postponed until the schedules were passed. The On AMMAN explained that all the clauses of the Bill would have to pass before the schedules were considered. Mr Oiiivßß said he proposed to strike out the words “ ninety-one electoral districts ” in order to insert “eighty-six.” The object was to have Dunedin and Wellington continued as one electoral district, instead of being cut up into wards. Mr Bastings moved as a previous amendment that the danse be altered so as to read, “ there shall be nine electoral districts corresponding with the provincial districts, and each elector therein shall have as many votes as there are members allotted to the provincial district.” The Hon. J. Hail opposed the amendment. Mr Sbddon proposed another amendment —“ That the electoral districts remain as at present constituted.” Sir G. Qeby moved as a further amendment that the clause be made to read as follows :—“ The number of European members for any one district shall bear to the whole number of European members as nearly as may be the proportion that any such district bears to the population of New Zealand.” The House divided on Mr Seddon’s amendment, which was by 50 to 13, Mr Bastings’ amendment was next discussed, after which he applied to have il withdrawn, and leave was ' granted. Mr Oliver’s amendment was next considered, and the question put for retaining the words as printed—Ayes, 40 : noes, 17. Sir G. Grey’s amendment was next discussed and the House divided—Ayes, 11 , noes, 38, The clause was passed as printed. The remaining clauses were passed without comment. In the absence of Mr Sheehan, Mr Mobs moved the following new clause : —“ Every man of the age of twenty-one years and upwards having a leasehold estate in possession, situate within any electoral district constituted under this Act, of the clear annual value of ten pounds, held upon a lease which, at the time of registration, shall have no less than three years to run, or having a leasehold situate of such value as aforesaid, of which he has been in possession for three years or upwards at the time cf such registration, shall bo entitled to be registered under the Registration Electors Act of 1879, and to vote at the election of members of the House of Representatives, and this clause shall be read as part of the Qualification of Electors Act, 1877.” The clause was read a second time. Mr Lundon moved that three years be made six months. The Hon. J. Hall said that Government supported the principle of the clause.