PARLIAMENTARY PLEASANTRIES.

Kumara Times, Issue 990, 2 December 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY PLEASANTRIES.

*The following few specimens of the proposals and answers actually made on the Registration of Electors Bill in the House of Representatives are transmitted to the Christchurch Press by their Special correspondent at Wellington. Although amusing as shewing the quiet and dignified manner in which the present Premier deals with the various Opposition proposals on the Bill in question, at the same time we - regret to observe oilr local representative in the House is reported in the most “ aspirating” manner : Mr Seymour George—l Want td insert a provision here to make it easier for a man to get on the roll. Mr Hall—lf the hon. member would kindly read the Bill he would find that what he desires has been much more effectually provided for in clause 6. Mr Pyke—l propose that the Registration Officer be fined £lO if he fails to put a duly qualified elector on the roll, Mr Hall—The hon. member and his party cannot seem to realise that under our electoral provisions the registration officer is not the mere passive reluctant Critical receiver of names, but the active searcher for names to put on the roll, 4ggf>hich can be put on at any time. Mr Andrews—Sir, a man otight always be able to vote under protest. I shall propose that after a man has been struck off the roll his vote shall be received under protest. Mr Hall—The hon. member will perhaps remember that this is the Registration of Electors Bill not the Regulation of Elections Bill. ° Mr Thomson—l have an amendment

to propose to regulate what objections can be made. Mr Hall—That is already done by an amendment the Government accepted from Mr Hislop. Mr Thomson—What gross carelessof the Government not to have provided for it itself! Mr Hall—Well, the Government provided for it one way and Mr Hislop another, and we thought his provision at least as good as our own. Mr Seddon—Now, sir, I have got a lot of new clauses to hintroduce into this here Bill. Them provisions what the Government has made won’t prevent personification. In the hold country people live for hundreds of years in one place, generation after generation, and he very body knows hevery body, but here it is quite different, as you will find hout before these clauses has been in hoperation a twelve months. I have got these here clauses printed on the supplementary border paper, sir, and they’ll make it himpossible for hany body to practice hany himposition on hany returning hofficer. I propose the first new clause, sir. Mr Hall—The hon. member has taken these clauses from the Yictorian Act, and they fit very well in the Act he has taken them from, but they would not fit into this Act in any way, and if we were to adopt them, we would abandon this Bill and adopt the whole Act to which they belong. I prefer our own Bill, and I hope the committee will also prefer it.

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