HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 196, 17 September 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Tuesday. Last night the House went into Committee on the Electoral Bill. In the franchise clause, Dr Wallis moved the omission of the word " Male" in the first line for the purpose of testing the feeling of the House on granting the franchise to women. On a division being taken the work " Male" was retained. Ayes, 36; Noes, 26. Ayes: Messrs Beethamj Brandon. Bryce, Bunny, Cutten, Dignan' Douglas, Fisher, Gibbs, Gisborne, Hamlin, Hodgkinson, Joyce, Kelly, Kenny, McLean, Montgomery, Murray-Aynsley, Ormond Reeves, Richardson, Richmond, Rowe Saunders, Seymour, Sharp, Sheeban, Steven*' Sutton, Teschmaker, Thomson, Tole, Turnbull, Whitaker, and Wood. Noes' Messrs Atkinson, Baigent, Ballance, Barff, J. E. Brown, Carrington, Delatour, Fitzroy, Fox, Hislop, Hursthouse, Johnston, Macandrew, McFarlane, Montgomery, Moss Murray, Nabe, Oliver, Pyke, Shrimski, Stout, Swanson, Wallis, Wason, and Woolcock. A number of amendments were proposed in clause 15, which provides for qualifications, freehold, household, aud residental. Mr Saunders moved as an amendment words which would make the two years residental qualification apply alike to property-holders and non-property-holders. The amendment lost by 55 against 8. Mr Whitaker moved that the sub-sections relating to freehold and household qualification be expunged, and the residental clause be amended by inserting one year instead of two. These amendments were dealt with separately and the first was retained unaltered. The annual value of household was fixed at £5 instead of £10. The residentai clause led to a long discussion. Mr Gisborne moved that the qualification be six moaths instead of two years The Attoifley-General thought one year would be a fair compromise. The two years was retained by 34 against IC. Messrs Ballance, Macandrew, and Fisher voted for the extension of two years, and Mr Stout with the Noes. The Premier left the Chamber shortly before the division, and Mr Sheehan was not in the House. Various other amendments were proposed without being carried Progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 210 a.m.