GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 615, 17 September 1878, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[press agency.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, September 17, Last night, shortly after the House met, The House went into committee on the Electoral Bill. In the franchise, clause, Mr Wallis moved the omission of the word “ male” in the first line, for the purpose of testing the feeling on the House on granting franchise to women. A division being taken, the word “ male” was retained. Ayes, 35;

Noes, 25. Ayes: Messrs Beetham, Brandon, Bryce, Bunny, Cutten, Dignan, Douglas, Fisher, Gibbs, Gisborne, Hamlin, Atkinson, Joyce; Kelly, Kenny, M‘Leah, Montgomery, MurrayAynsley, Ormond, Reeves, Richardson, Richmond, Rowe, Saunders, Seymour, Sharp, Sheehan, Stevens, Sifton, Teschmaker, Thomson, Tole, Turnbull, Whitaker, Wood. Noes: Messrs Baigent, Ballance, Barff,Brown, J. E. Carrington, de Latour, Pitzroy Pox, Hislop, Hursthouse, Johnston, Macandrew, Macfarlane, Montgomery, Moss, Murray, Nahe, Oliver, Pyke, Shrimski, Stout, Swanson, Wallis, Wason, Woolcock. A number of amendments were proposed to clause 16, which provides for the qualification being freehold, household, and residential. ■ Mr .Saunders moved as an amendment that the word which would make the two years’ residential qualification apply alike to property-holders and non-property holders. The amendment was lost by 55 against 8. Mr Whitaker moved that the substitution relating to freehold and household qualification be expunged, and the residential clause be amended by inserting one year instead of two. The amendments were dealt with separately. The first was retained unaltered, and insetted. The : annual value of the household qualification was fixed at £5 instead of £lOl The residential clause led to a long discussion; Mr Gisborne .moved that the qualification be six months instead of two years. The Attorney-General thought one* year would be a fair compromise. The two years was retained by 34 against 16. Messrs Ballance, Macandrew, and Fisher voted for the extension of, two *; years, bnt Mr Stoat was with the Noes." The Premier left the chamber shortly ' before the division, and Mr Sheehan was not in the House. Various other amendments were proposed, without being carried. Progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 2.10 a.m.