Parliament of New Zealand.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 181, 26 June 1869, Page 4

Parliament of New Zealand.

HOUSE OF R EPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY, JUNE 10th. Election by Ballot Bill. Mr. Retxoi/ds moved, For leave to introduce a Bill to provide that the Election of Members of the House of Representatives and Provincial Councils shall take place by means of the Ballot. This BPI was an old friend, had been before their notice two or th v ee sessions ago and had passed the House last session, but was rejected in consequence, chiefly, of the lateness of the session; so that it had been fo ll y considered by that Hou::c. It met with strong Opposition in the House, and there were four dvvisions taken upon it before it passed ; one on its introduction, when there was a majority of five in its favour, again at its second reading, when the majority was eleven; and twice during its progress thiough Committee, whcntheie were majorities of six and eleven against motions to report progress. He thought, therefore, it was hardly necessary for him to go into the principles of the Bill seeing that it hud already been discussed. Certainly there were some new members since last session, but he was very glad to say that, after hat ing made inquiries, he found that almost all of them were supporters of the Ballot. Leave was granted. Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Birch were ordered to prepare the Bill, which was brought in, read a first time, ordered to be printed, and second read : ng fixed for next sitting day. On the 11 Hi June, Mr. Reynolds moved the second reading of the Bill, advancing no new arguments as neccsary, but offered to read any number of quotations if the ex-Postmaster-Geueral desired it to convince him of the value of the measure. Mr. Birch, of Canterbury, followed, and said that for four years he had watched the working of the system in the election ot Municipal Councillors in the city he represented, and no hitch whatever had occurred. He looked upon it as the most conscientious and independent mode of voting that a man could possibly exercise, and hoped that the Bill would not be thrown out by another branch of the Legislature again, as last year, after being passed in this. The Speaker hereupon called him to order for daring to reflect upon another House. Mr. J. Hall followed on the other side, urging that the Bill should not be pressed, as it had only been in their hands three-quarters of an hour (that is, for this session). A Bill more detrimental to the good working of constitutional government he could not possibly conceive. There was hardly a single mea sure which he should more regret seeing placed upon the Statute Book of the Colony than a measure which encouraged the people to discharge a most important public trust in secret. Mr. Carlton moved the adjornment of the debate, which was negatived. Mr. Fox then entered the lists, and expressed Ins satisfaction that Mr, Reynolds had again for the fourth time brought forward the Bill which he had valiantly fought and carried through the House last session, and expressed Ms confidence that it would be carried by a larger majority than ever. The necessity for such a measure had become manifest at homo, and he hoped that that opinion being declared at home would have a material effect upon the opinions of honorable members. He trusted that they would not be tound to be lagging behind the old country—the old conservative country —but were still prepared to go ahead as they ought to do as a young community, even though they passed the old country. Mr. Carlton would not allow the measure to pass unchallenged, and rose to make his protest. Mr. Creighton spoke against. Mr. D. Bell alluded to it as the humbugging Ballot Bill which came before the House every year, with the same absurd argir-

ments that it was go ; ng to convert the

people who were subject to tyranny into a virtuous, and self-denying, and beautifullyconstituted electoral body. Mr. Fitzherbert spoke in opposition, saying he did not think there was the slightest parallel between this country and Great Britain, and intimated that there was no intimidation in this Colony. Mr. Williamson followed on the same side, hoping the measure would never become law. Mr. Graham and Mr. Ball spoke in favor. Mr. Reynolds replied most ably. Question put, “That the Bill be now read a second time,” upon which a division was called for, with the following result:—

Ayes, 37 —Messrs. Armstrong, Baigent, Ball, BarfF, Bradshaw, Burns, Clark, Collins, Curtis, Eyes, Featherston, Fox, Gallagher, Graham, W. H. Harrison, Haultain, Heaphy, Kelly, Kenny, Kerr, Macaudrew, Macfarlane, Main, Mervyn, C. O’Neill, Ormond, Parker, Peacocke, Rich, Stafford, Stevens, Swan, Vogel, Wells, Wood.

Tellers.—Messrs. Birch and Reynolds. Noes, 18.- Messrs. Dillon Bell, Brown, Carleton, Dignan, Farmer, Fitzherbert, Hall, H. S. Harrison, Jollie, Munro, O’Rorke, Potts, Richmond, Rolleston, Studholm, J. C. Wilson. j Tellers.'—Messrs. Creighton and Williamson. Paiks.— For—Mr. Edwards Against Mr. Ludlam.

Tho Bill was accordingly read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Wednesday week. llovsg Committee.

Mu. Cauleton moved that the name of Mr. Eyes be added to the House Committee. The motion was necessitated in consequence of carelessness on his part, he having missed the name of Mr. Eyes in copying the names of those who were on the Committee last year. Mr. Main, before the question was put, would like to say a few words about that Committee. Since he had the honor of a seat in that House he had generally found that there were members elected on it who seldom made use of Bellamy’s, as they had other means of attending to their necessities than were at the disposal of honorable members generally frequenting the House. Perhaps ho was not in order in referring to a motion which would be discussed in the House shortly, but it had just struck him that if hononorable members who had more acquaintance with Bellamy’s than those honorable gentlemen finding themselves on the House Committee, were to interest themselves in the matter, Bellamy’s would be more useful as a resort for those who were in the habit of frequenting it. He could have no objection to the motion of the honorable member. The gentleman proposed, ho was happy to say, would be a very suitable member of the House Committee. He thought a little more care should be exercised in the selection of those who had the charge of their comfort. Motion agreed to.