PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 156, 2 July 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF EEPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Friday. The House met at 2*30. Mr Stevens moved the seconl reading of the Church o« England io tfw Zealand

Trustees Corporation, and St Paul's Presbyterian Church (Christchurch) Bills. Carried. ' Sir G. Grey gave notice that he would introduce a Bill to regulate the admission of parties to the practice of Law. Mr Stevens brought up the Public Accounts Committee's report on the pension of iJr Pollen, which was ordered to be con•idered on Thursday next. The report was as follows:— That in awarding a pension of £418 15s a year, and paying that pecsion from the 31st October, 187G, the Government were acting according to the weight of opinion given by the Crown Law officers. The Committee are, however, of opinion that the Crown Law Officers and Civil servants of the colony have put the most favorable interpretation on the doubtful points in this claim for pan9ion, and underrate circum- i stances which appear to make the eiaira of doubtful legality. The C mmittee think it is open to grave doubt whether Dr Pollen watj ectitled to reckon, for purposes of his pension, that time duriog which he had a seat in the Executive Council without pay or portfolio; the Committee are also of opinion that ihe promise made by Sir J. Yogel that the sum of £300 paid to Dr Pollen as Paymaster of Imperial pensions should ba included in the calculation for purpose of pension, was one which it was beyond the lawful authority of auy Minister to make, and subversive of due Parliamentary authority and control. The Committee cocsiiier that any case cf the above nature, which may in itself be reasonable but which is surrounded by legal difficulties, should be submitted to Parliament for decision, Replying to Mr Macdonald, Mr Hall said the Government would consider the propriety of arranging the sittings of the Supreme Court twice a year at Gisborne. The Ilouse then went into Committee on the Regulation of Elections Bill. Clause 6 was amended so as to read " provided such change be notified in one or more newspapers circulating in the district at least seven clear days before the day of polling." Clause 9, Dr Wallis moved that the provision for taking all polls on the one day be struck out. The House divided on the question that the clause remain as printed. Ayes, IS ; noes, 22. Clause 10, Mr Wood moved that instead of ten days being allowed between the date of nomination and the poll, the number of days be not more than five, and not less than three. The amendment was negatived. Clause 11, providing that aoy elector desiring to be a candidate may nominate himself in writing; or having given his consent thereto in writing may be nomiuated in the same manner by ten electors of the district ; snd tbat the nomination be accon panied by a deposit of £10 to be forfeited, if the candi date does not poll one-fifth of the number of votes obtained by the winning candidate. Mr Saunders m^ved that it be struck out. The House divided on the question that it stand as printed. Ayes, 23 ; noes, 24. The following i 3 the division list : — Ayes : Messrs Alhvright, Bain, Beetham, Fisher, J. B. (Buller)j Fisher, J. T. (Heathcote), Grey, Hirst, 11. (Wallace), Hutchison, Johnston, Levin, M'Andrew, M'Donald, Montgomery, Murray, Pitt, Reeves, Reid, Richard»»n, Shephard, Shrimski, Stevens, Weston Noes : Messrs Bastings, Bowen, Bryce, Colbeckj Collins, Gibbs, Hamlin, Hursthouse, Kelly, Levestarn, Moss, Russell, Saunders, Seddon, Speight, Studholme, Sutton, Swanson, Thomson, Trimble, Turbull, Wallis, Wood, and Wright. The Ilouse adjourned at 5.30. and resumed at 7.30. Clauses 12 to 15 were struck out on the understanding that they wouldb c re-modelled in conformity with the alterations made in the context. Clause 1C • an amendment by Mr Bastings, that the poll open at 6 a.m. instead of 9 am, was lost on the voices. On behalf of Mr Barron, who was absent, a further amendment was moved, that the poll close at 8 instead of 6. The House divided and the Clause, as printed, passed. Ayes 33. Noes 18. Clause 28, Mr Montgomery moved as an amendment affirming the principle of allowing no person to exercise more than one vote. The Committee divided on Mr Montgomery's amendment, Clause 28, the practical effect of which would be to abolish plural voting. Ayes, 23 ; Noes, 28. Amendment negatived, Clause passed. Ayes (23) : Messrs De Latour, J. B. Fisher (Builer), J. T. Fisher (Heathcote), George, Grey, Hiitchinson, Macandrew, M'Donald, Montgomery, Mosa, Pyke, Reeves, Reid, Seddon, Shephard, Shrimski, Speight, Thom■on, To!e, Trimble, Turnbull, and Weaton Noes (28): Messrs Allwright, Bain, Beetham, Bowen, Bryce, Colbeck, Collins, Fox, Gibbe, Hall, H. Hir«t (Wallace), Hursthome, JohnBton, Kelly, Lsvestam, M'Caughan, Pitt, Richardson, Russell, Stnvens, Studholme, Sutton, Swanson, Wakefleld, Wallis, Whitaker, Wood, and Wright. Mr Hutchison moved to strike out Clause 29 requiring the voting papers to be unnumbered. Mr Johnston opposed as the Clause contained an improvement on the present system sufficient to ensure absolute secresy. The Clause passed. Clauses 30 to 33 also passed. In Clause 34, providing that when a constituency returns three members no elector shall vote for more than two, Mr Montgomery moved tbat thii proviso be struck out. After tome discussion the amendment was negatived on the voices and the Clause passed •8 printed. Th« Clauses up to 57 (all of which were of a formal character) also passed without substantial alteration, and progress was reported. The House rose at 12.15.