PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 172, 12 July 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Welling ton, Tuesday. The House met at 2.30. The business wa9 comparatively unimportant. A fortnight's leaves ot absence was granted to Mr Rees. Most of the afternoon • was devoted to discussing the fifteenth clause of the Begulation of Local Elections Bill. There was great divt r3ity of opinion as to the hours the polls should be taken, the hill fixing the hours between 9 and 6. MrLusk wanted the power of fixing the time placed in the handß of local boards. Some wanted polls to be kept opened from noon till eight or ten at night, Others opposed on the ground that it would tend to create drunkenness and tumult. Various amendments were proposed, but aU were rejected, one division being 45 against and 26 in favor of the Gove nmedt. The clause was still under discussion when the House rose at 5.30. v Wednesday. The House resumed at 7.30, tHking up the debate on The Regulation of Elections^Bill. A long discussion < nsued on a number of the clauses, especially with reference to the form of voting, such as tbe initialing and numbering ot the voting papers by the Returning Officer, and it was objected tbat snch a practice destroyed theprinciple of secret voting, and the electors might as well vote openly at o.nce. Eventually the clause was carried as printed, and all the clauses from 27 to 38 were carried without material alteration. Mr. Stout objectel to the sale of spirituous liquors du-iog elections, eßpacially iu the vici ity of the polling booths. Tbe Premier opposed it, alleging tbat it would only encourage, the il icit sale of liquor, and that the question of total abstinence should be discussed on its own merits on a future occasion. The new clause moved hy Mr Stout was rejected by a large majority. An additional clause moved by Mr Whitaker, which prevented the Supremo Court shutting out the juris iiction of the Resident Mag .trate's Court wa<? carried. The Bill was reported as amended, and ordered to he considered on Thursday. Sir G. Grey then moved that tbe resolution of the House to the effect that he should on Tuesday make his election as to which digtrht he should sit for should be rescinded. This led to a long discussion. Sir G. Grey quoted the practice of the House of Commons, aud asked for a week's delay to enable him to make up his mind as to which constituency he Bhould represent. A long discussion ensued, some supporting and others opposing the application, and it was at length decided by the Speaker that Sir G. Grey should make his election on Friday as to whether he would sit for the Thames or Auckland City West, The House adjourned at 1 a.m.