PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 202, 25 August 1881, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wei.iixgtox, Wednesday. The disoua;~iou proceeded until g late hour this r.ftt vac^c, v?Lec the ques«icn that Ins vrorfis ;a ibe first lire of ChiMf. 2h» p'rufb o U f, uifh the view cf in-<.r.? n .v fh* wr-rd '< *t » NpgaHve.i cr: tl- vr-icf-s.. Tl.e fur;hpr smendmenr propose) in Clause 2, that 91 be *'ru.-k out with the view of inaerfin* GO waa ncsf. pat, 91 being put ac sfsndi ;n- pars of the clause. Thp House jUyided— Aye?, 40; Kopb, 24." Mr Gisborne tnoved, cs n further amendment, the addition of a proviso, " provided that 45 members shall be given to tbo North Island and 46 to the Sooth Island." Sir George Grey aoved that progress be reported. He did so in no hostile spirit, but eimpiy tvhh the view of approaching the question in a calm mind. The motioo for reporting progress was withdrawn. Mr Hall opposed the motioD, contecding that the alteration proposed would strike at the root of tbe representative principle juafc affirmed. Captain Russell supported the motion, eonteDdicg that the preponderance proposed by the clause as it stood would be most unfair to the North. So iong as the Legishture comprised its characteristic of a Board of Works it was mere than ever necessary to adjust the bailee of power on an equitsble basis. Mr -Sutton adopted an opposite view, contending that the alteration woald kovs the effect of killing the Bill if adopted. Mr Brandon thought the Bill very wrong in principle, and would vote against it. The question was then pat that the words proposed be added to the clause — Ayep, 19 ;Noes, 45. The divisiou list WB9 r-s follows : — Ayes • Messrs Colbeck, Collins, George, Gibbs, Giebornp, Hamlio, Harris, Hurst (Auckland), HursJhcuse, Leveetam, Pitt Russell, Sp=igr.f, .Seddon, Swaason. Tole, Wsllis, Wtßtoo, Wbitaker, and Wood. Noes : Messrs Allwright, Andrews, B^.rron, B^tings, B?etbam Boweu, Brandon, Brown, Bryoe, Bunny, Da Lautour, Dick, Driver, Ficn, Fither (Buller), Fi B ber (Heathcot-), Fox, Fulton, Hall, Hire! (Wallace), _ HutchisoD, Johnston, K^ncy, Levin, Macandrew, M'Caogban, M'Douald, Montgomery, Oliver, Pyke,' Beeves, Richardson, Rolieaton, Sbenks', Shephard, Steven?, Stewart, Studholme, Sutton, Thomson. Trimblp Turnbull, Wskefield, and Wbyte. Mr' Levestam moved, ss a further proviso that tbe words '• provided that in no borooph iD which tbe seat of Government for tbe Colony shall be situated ahall have aoy representation." be added. The question was then put that the addition be mnde to the clause — Ajes, 14 ; Noes, 49 Mr Seddoc moved ihut progress he reported Ayes, 12 ; Noes, 44 Clause 2 was then put and carried. Sir George Grey moved that progress ba reported, Mr Hall eaid they would only conasot to the o journ:: :ent oa thy understanding that tht- atonewaliinp process had come to an er:d ; they wouid decline if it was simply to euaMe cierabera to recruit for receding the operation. Sir George Grey s.-vM he beHsve-1 that thera wes scoie provec^tion fov the stonewalling ; how(.v^r, he desired to raise do party qutsstioc; hs couid give no promise, bui bo far r.e he w?bs concerned no unnecessary obstruction wouiu fee thrown in the wpy. Mr Bastings said he bad still an amendment to rrsove, and hsvinn done so, he would leavo tbe matter b the hands of the House. Mr Pitt said he felt bouDd to take the course he had 3ons in defereece to a strong expression of opinioa from his constituency. In {be face of the large mtjority against bins, he felt constrained to give way, end cay it was best to offer no further •obstruction. If tbe adjournment wae agreed to, the opposition members would have an opportunity for congulting, acd he bad facpes that an amicable ODdera/anding would be come to. Mr Seddon declined to give any euch pledge, announcing his determination to discuss every clause end act in the matter as he thought right; he charged the Premier wiih having a tyrannical mejoriiy at bis back and using it. Mr Gibbs also announced bis determination to deal with the Bill as he might Bee fit; he would oppose every clause. Mr Tawbai said tb&t a meeting of the Auckland members had been held, at which it was resolved to oppose the Bill as unfair to the North Island, He VfBB astonished to find these very men going into lobbies and voting for the Bill; be cenoonceJ the deception thug practised. Mr Lundon said all the Government was B&kcd to concede wos an hour's postponement. It was nc worth wbiie iDeistiDg upon theadjourcnaeut, more especially when such r, promise was to be exacted. Sir G. Grey was sorry the Government ha* refused a reasonable request, and would accept with pleasure the challenge tbe Government had given and be was prepared to fight out the cause into wbich they had been forced by the uncompromising conduct of the Government. Captain Russell said the Government having shown its strength, should show its magnainmity. Colon* 1 Trimble thought if tbe motion was withdrawn, it would be a graceful act on the part of the Government to accede to an adjournment till 7 30. Tbe Home wa' evidently in a state of irritation, Mr Hall said he would be prepared to follow the course euggeeted. The queftion for reporting progress was then put :— Ayee, 11 ; Noes, 43. The Chairman then left the chair until 8 o'clock, j The Houee resumej at 8 o'clock. Mr Finn drew alt* nsion to ?he Standing Order providing that unless oiberwise ordered the House shall ait e*oh day at 230, onrl h; quoted from May's Parliamentary Practice to show that a debate in Corcmiitee could not be allowed to tdke precedence of the Bitting of the House, as bao been done that day. Mr Seymour thought it might have been more proper to have reported progress, so oa to allow the sitting of tbe Houee bb directed at 2 30; the Speaker elected, however, not to take the chair &a tbe Committed was sitting. Mr Seddou rose to another point of order. He complained that the Chairman had that day at 5 o'clock left tbe chair unfilled, which was contrary to that rule. Mr Seddon was about to remonstrate further, when Ibe Chairman pointed^ out that the point

ronM cot be fnriher nor seated, and Mr c ' r'ru iptirrßfed ib{ he would table ; motion on the subject. The Bepre-sects'-ion Bill wes farther considered in Committee. On clause 8, Mr Oliver proposed that the clause be ppp f prned until thp schedulrs were p ps <'. The Chairman prpkined that all the clauses of the Bill would have to be psssed before the schedules were considered. Mr Oliver said he propos?d to strike out the words 91 electoral districts in order to insert 86 ; the object was to have Dunedin and Wellington continued as one electoral district instead of being cut up into words. Mr Bastings moved as a previous that the clause be altered, so as to read, there shall be nine electoral districts corresponding with the Provincial Districts, and each elector therein shall have as many votes es there are members allotted to the Provincial Districts. Mr Hall opposed the amendment. Mr Seddon proposed another amendment ihafc the electoral districts remain as at present constited. Sir George Grey moved bb a futber amendment that the clause be ma^e to read es follows : — The number of European members for any one district shall bear to the whole nomber of European members as nearly as may be the proportion that any sucb district bears to the population of New Zaaland. The Houae divided on Mr Seddon's amendment, which waa negatived by 50 to 13. '