Essence of Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 5 July 1892, Page 3

Essence of Parliament.

• •■ 4y On Friday afternoon the Governor's reply to the Address was read. The following Bills were in troduced and read the first time : — A Bill to prohibit the importation of intoxicating liquors into the Colony ; The Mornmohaki County Bill. In the evening the Premier moved the second reading of the Electoral Bill. He said the most important; feature of the Bill was that it proposed to confer the franchise on women. The Government had, howevar, left out that part of last year's Bill by which women were accorded the privilege of being eligible for a seat in Parliament, but he thought it would be better to postpone that question to another part of the session, although he himself saw no objection to it. He hoped this question of female franchise would be carried, as it was last year, when the Legislative Council throw it out subsequently. The measure had received the support of the country. The Government had also retained in the Bill the freehold qualification, which was contained in the Bill of last year. The salient principle of the Bill was one-man-one-vote and one-man-one-roll, a principle which passed in the House by a large majority* The Bill also oontained clauses giving shearers and commercial travellers an opportunity of voting away from the plaoes wherein they resided, and another clause allowed school buildings and other public buildings to be used by candidates for the purdose of addressing the electors, free of charge. The Hon Mr Rolleston thought the one-man-onevote system was not carried to its legitimate conclusion in what was known as triple electorates, and that if combination of voting was allowed in the country as in cities, the minority would stand a much better chance of being represented. As to electoral districts the frequent change of boundaries was much to be deplored, and he asserted that the question of community of interests in the electorate had not had due consideration. He thought furthei that the one month's necessary residence was not sufficient, and he also objected to the female suffrage, which he should not support, and which he hoped the House would not pass before it had been referred distinctly to" the constituencies as it ought to be. Mr Scobie McKenzie would generally support the Bill, but objected to the female franchise aud the one month's residence. . Messrs Fish, Duthie, Taylor, T. McKenzie, Macintosh and McLean spoke, and the second reading was earned and then the House rose.