HOUSE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 256, 8 November 1879, Page 2

HOUSE.

Wellington, Friday night. Mr Ballance gave notice that the County Councils should exercise the functions of Waste Lands Boards within their respective districts, and that Boards be abolished in 1880. Arrangements are made to bring Woraran to Wellington. The Government said that no communication had been received from Rewi relative to the extension of the main line of railway from Auckland to Taupo and the West Coast. The practicibility of the route would be tested with the least possible delay. Plane for railway workshops at or near Dunedin similar to those in Dunedin are in preparation. A sum wou'd be placed on the estimates for the work. The Triennial Parliaments Bill was brought up aa amended.—Mr Reeves moved that clause 3 be amended so as to make the Parliament expire in December 1882 instead of February.—The Premier wanted the Bill reported and the other business proceeded with. —The Bill was then reported by 42 against 24, and read the third time and passed. On the motion of the Premier, the Qualification of Electors Bill was further considered in Committee. —The Bill provides that every man 21 years of age or upwards having JS2S freehold six months before registration, and the man who had resided a year in the colony and six months in the electoral district shall be a qualified elector —Sir G. Grey considered that manhood suffrage was all that was required. He supported the amendment to be introduced by Mr Moss providing that a property qualification be dispensed with, and one month substituted for six months. —Mr Montgomery moved that no property qualification should entitle any elector to more than one vote in the colony. —Mr Swan son supported with some warmih the retention of the property qualification as an encouragement to the acquisition of the same by working men. Dr Wallisalso concurred.—The Premier contended that the country did not want to exclude property from the qualification. It was only those out of office who asked for it, and those persons only a few weeks earlier had no intention of opposing a property qualification. The debate was interrupted by 5.30. The Katikati settlers petitioned for a sum to he placed on the estimates to make a road from Katikati to the Thames. The Treasurer promised to consider the question of increasing the duty on colonial hops in the preparation of his financial measures but could say no more at present. The Government declined to state whether they intend to put a duty on all coal imported but had the question under consideration. The Government would confer with Mr Justice Johnston as to giving effect to the recommendation contained in the interim report in the reprint of the Statutes Commission laid before the House last session. In reply to a question Mr Oliver said there was a rule making it imperative that all railway employees in the South Island lines should belong to the Railway Bern fit Society, but it was not enforced. It was not optional for a member to continue his subscription and remain a member. Saturday. On the House resuming at 7.30 the Premier moved that the Elections Validation Bill be read the second time. There was a good deal of opposition to the Bill. Sir George Grey said if it was carried it was his intention to table a motion asking the House that the report entered on the recorda of the House in regard to his disqualification be expunged. He believed that a more unjust thing had never been done than making the Christchurch election matter a party question. After some diacuß&ion a division was called for on the motion of Mr Montgomery and declared lost on the services. Mr Lundon said, if it went to a division he should vote with the Government and if he did so once he very likely would do bo again. Further discussion arose on a motion for reporting progress which resulted in a division: Ayes 11 Noes 41. After a division on Mr Montgomery's amendment in the Qualification of Electors Bill Mr Ballance moved that the word " person " be inserted instead of " man," thus enabling women to vote. On the motion being put that "person" take the place of " raan " it was declared ost on the voices. A division was call for which resulted in the clause remaining as it originally stood. Ayes 29—Allwright, Barron, Brandon Colbeck, Dick, Driver, J. T. Fisher, Gibbs, Gisborne, Hamlin, Kelly, Levin, McDonald, McLean, Moorhouse, Ormond, Pyke, Richardson, Ro leston, Seddon, Shanks] Sheehan, Shepbard, Stevens, Sutton, Tole, Whyte, Wood. Noes 34—Adams, Atkinson, Bain, Ballance, Brown, Delantour, Finn, George, Hall, Harris, Hursthouse, Ireland, Johnston, Kenny, Macandrew, Montgomery, Moss. Murray. Oliver, Pitt, Reeveß.Reid, Saunders, Speight, Swanson, Tainui, Tawbai, Te Wheoro, Tomoana, Trimble, Turnbull, Wallis, Wilhs, Wright. . Mr Moss then moved in the first subsection of section 2 the following amendment: — " Every person being a British subject and not les-s than twenty one years of age, who ahall have resided in New Zealand one year, and in the electoral district for which he or she claims to vote not less than one month immediately preceding the registration of

his or her rote is entitled to be regarded as an elector, and to vote at elections for members of the House of Representatives " A good deal,of discussion ensued, but eventually tbe House adjourned at 1215, without getting any further.