PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 18 August 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

; - . — ♦"^ ' ■ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. : FRIDAY, AUGUST >4. The Speaker took the chair &t % 80 p.m. . The Minister of Agriculture moved the second reading of the Rabbit Nuisance Act 1890 Amend- : merit Bill, giving effect to the re- 1 'commendation of the Stock Committee in regard to rabbit proof fencing. The second reading was agreed to without disoussiofl. The Minister of Justice mo\ed the second reading of the Workmen's Lien Bill, which he said would he included in the Labour Jills, and. wonld go before the Committee on these Bills. ■ -■ After a short discussion the Bill was read a second; time, and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The Premier moved the second reading.of the Consolidated Stock Bill designed to amend a similar Bill passed in 1884, The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Public Accounts Committee. .:■'•■.„■• In Committee on th 9 DistillationAct Amendment Bill, the Honourable Mr Bryce said it had.. been represented to him that the most formidable objection to the Bill was that it would facilitate and make it almost impossible to detect smuggling—The Premier said smuggling had not been found to take placa in other colonies where a similar Act had been in force. The Bill paseed through Committee without amendment. The following Bills passed through Committee without any important amendment: Trustees' Act 1878 Amendment Bill, Post and Telegraph Classification, and Regulation Act Amendment, Public Bodies' Powers Act 188': Amendment and River Bopa-ds A it Amendment, • and Marriage Aot A mcndment. The Public Revenues Bill was also considered in Committee, and the amendments made by the Public Accounts- Committee agreed to. ." "• The Selectors' Land Revaluation Continuance and Amendment Bill passed through Committee with a few amendmtnts. : The House then went into further Committee on the Electoral Bill. — Immediately on the amendment proposing to include women in the franchise, Mr Fish moved that Mr . Per^ ceval leave the chair, saying - that the Premier' had practically been guilty of a breach of faith in giving his quasi consent to the inclusion of this question ■ in the 'Electoral Bill. ■ The Premier said the blame of amendment had been put upon himself, but he asked, the House whether the hon. member for Elesmere bad .not a : perfect, right to. move an amendment if he liked. If Mr Fish had any doubt as to the feelings of members he could move; a vote of want ot confidence, when it would be found that about three-fourths of the Liberal party were in favour of the extension of the franchise to women. He (the Premier) had been, gjilty of no breach of faith ; he had thirteen years ago, when the Electoral Bill was .before the House, tablejd a motion exactly similar to lire one nowbef ore ishe House, and he did not see that any harm whatever, would result from giving, women the franchise He urged Mr ' Fisjj, to take a vote upon the question ; three fourths of the party were in favour of the female franchise, and as leader 6f,the Ho.use he had a right; to &opatilt their opinions. Many members spoke to the question but a few set up, a " stonewall " j to drive the Bill, out of. the House. The Minister of Education then moved that progress be reported, and would represent to the Premier that there was a desire to go on with the Bill. The question to report progress was put at 2.15, and on a division it was carried by 20 to 18. All the Bills passed through com mittee during the afternoon and evening sittings were reported, ex-

cept the Public Bevenues Bill, read ' a third tiffl* and passed. Progress on the Electoral Bill was reported, and leave was gf?en to sit again .on Tuesday. . The House rose at 2.30. . r — \ r