HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5430, 22 August 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, August 21. PETITIONS. Petitions were presented by Messrs. Reeves, George, Fox, Beetham, Teschmaker, Pitzroy, Wason, and Rees (six.) NOTICES. Notices of question and motion were given by Messrs. Shrimski, Barff, and O’Rorke. REPORTS. Mr. BRYCE brought up certain reports from the Native Affairs Committee. THE SEPARATION QUESTION. Mr. BARTON, before the business on the paper was proceeded with, wished to ask a question of the Government without notice. It was necessary he should make certain explanations first. In that morning’s issue of a leading journal in the colony, published in Wellington, there was an explicit statement that the Government now sitting on those benches had certain intentions with respect'to building up two provinces The SPEAKER thought a question of such importance as the bon. gentleman € was evidently leading up to should be given notice of. Sir. BARTON said he proposed to read from the paper to show that - Mr. WOOD Inquired what the lion, member was reading from ? Mr. BAR TON : If the hon. gentleman bad listened he would have heard me say I was quoting the statement published by a leading journal in this town this morning. I said it sufficiently loudly to be heard The SPEAKER: Really I must stop the hon. gentleman. I cannot see that there is any special urgency. The rule is that no question shall be put without notice; but the House may permit a question to be put if the matter to which it has reference is of special urgency. The hon. gentleman must take the usual course, and give notice of the question, or put a motion on the paper. It is not desirable to break the rule, unless some good reason can be shown.

Mr. BARTON : My excuse, sir, is this. Some o£ my constituents this morning called upon me and informed me that certain transactions of importance had actually been stopped in consoqucnca of this - Mr. HODGKINSON: I rise to a point of order, sir. The hon: member should abide by your ruling. The SPEAKER : Yes; the hon. member must remember that Wellington is not tho colony. The question cannot be put. Sir GEORGS GREY, who was indistinctly heard in the gallery, was understood to say: Sir, I am anxious to reply to tho hon, gentleman. The rumor which has created this alarm is a political canard. (Hear, hear). The Government while in office will always take tho House and the country fully into its confidence. Wa never intended to carry out

or attempt to carry out anything without teliing the House what we proposed to do, and the House may rely upon it that in the future as in the past the Government will always take hon. members and the country into its confidence. Mr. WAKEFIELD said that was a reply to nothing. No one knew what question the hon. member for Wellington City had asked, if he had asked any at all. The SPEAKER ; Any notices of motion ? Mr. BARTON : Yes sir. I give notice I will to-morrow ask the hon. gentleman at the head of the Government whether it is true, as publicly stated in a leading journal to-day, that “ two large Provincial Governments arc to be created, one in each island ; the scat of Government for the South to be Christchurch; for the North, Auckland. The jurisdiction of these governments to he so large that little or nothing will be left for the General Government to do. A Postmaster General, and perhaps a Commissioner of Customs, with half-a-dozen clerks a piece, will constitute the General Government. 'Once in three years a General Assembly will meet. Wellington will be allowed to retain the empty and profitless honor of being the seat of this almost powerless body?” Also, whether “ Sir George Grey, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Fisher. Mr. Sheehan, and Mr. Stout voted in favor of separation in 1876?" Also, whether, “when the pear is pipe, Colonel Whitmore and Mr. Ballanoe, should they not prove amenable, are to be thrown overboard by the other members of the Government, and thorough separationists put into their vacant seats on the Ministerial benches !" o’ Connor’s cask. In reply to Mr. Barton, The Government promised to lay certain papers connected with this case on the table. QUEENSTOWN AND CROMWELL UAH,WAV. In answer to Mr. Hodgkinson, The Hon. Mr. MACANDREW said the Government did not propose to order a survey of this line. PORTUGUESE SETTLEMENT. In answer to Sir B. Douglas, The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN said the Government had received papers relating to a scheme for settling a portion of the northern districts of Auckland with Portuguese, natives of Madeira, and would lay them on the table. AGRICULTURE. Mr. MURRAY asked the Government,—lf they will lay before this House copies of re-' gelations iu force under the Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Acts, and a return showing the extent of land applied for, occupied, or granted under said Acts? Also, if they will introduce measures by which agriculture may be aided in drainage and other permanent improvements ; and if they have any papers or correspondence relating thereto, if there is any objection to lay them before this House ? The Hon. Mr. STOUT replied in the affirmative as to the first part of the question, and in the negative as to the second part. SURVEY REPORTS. In answer to the Hon. Mr. Fox, The Government promised to lay before the House reports of the Land Transfer Department and Surveyor-General’s Department, covering the period from the date of the last of snch reports to the present time. JAPANESE COMMISSIONERS. In reply to the Hon. Mr. Fox, The Hon. Mr. BALLANCE said a telegram had been sent to the Victorian Government iu reference to the Japanese Commissiones, but no reply had yet been received. LICENSING FEES. In reply to Mr. Richmond, The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN said the new Licensing Bill would equalise the licensing fees throughout the colony. RIFLE ASSOCIATION. Mr. HAMLIN asked,—(l) Whether, in the event of a Rifle Association being formed on the basis of the National Rifle Association of England, they will he prepared to consider a proposal to hand over to such association the equipments hitherto used at the colonial meetings, consisting of targets, tents, champion belts, &c.; (2) whether they will be prepared to consider a proposal to place a sum of money on the Supplementary Estimates in aid of the funds of such association ; (3) whether they will further be prepared to consider a proposal to aid such association by allowing them the use of a Government reserve at some central part of the colony, for a few days in each year, for the purpose of holding annual meetings ? The Auckland, Thames, and other corps were prepared to take the initiative, provided encouragement was promised. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN said the Government would be disposed to favorably consider the first and third proposals, and also the second when they saw the association was in earnest. EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES IN TELEGRAPH OFFICES. Mr. DE LA.UTOUR asked,—lt the employment of women in the telegraph offices of the colony has proved satisfactory ; and if he will be able to place any statistics before this House showing to what extent the system has been introduced ? The Hon. Mr. FISHER replied in the negative. There was a great deal of sickness among the women employed, the number on the sick list having averaged at one time as much as 33 per cent, of those employed, and only one had become thoroughly efficient. They could only be profitably employed as transcript clerks. , NEW BILLS. The following new Bills were introduced and read a first time:—The South Otago High School Bill; a Bill to vest a certain public reserve near Greymouth in a board of trustees, for the purposes of a racecourse and recreation ; the Special Bowers and Contracts Bill; the New River Harbor Endowment and Borrowing Bill; the Patea Harbor Endowment Bill; the Oamaru Harbor Board Ordinance Amendment Bill; the Whakatane Grants Validation Bill; the Cemeteries Management Act Amendment Bill. CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN RAILWAY. Mr. BASTINGS moved, —That this House, at its rising oa Thursday, the sth September, at half-past five, do adjourn until Tuesday, the 9th, at half-past seven p.m., to enable members who are desirous of so doing to he present at the opening of the Christchurch to Dunedin railway. They would not be doing their duties os representatives if they did not mark their sense of the importance of the event- about to take place in the way proposed. Many Northern members no doubt wished to go South, and he hoped that a similar trip North would be taken by Southern members at the end of the session. Agreed to. GAOL COMMITTEE. On the motion of Mr. Bowen the name of Mr. J. C. Brown was added to this committee. COUNTY OP WALLACE. Dr. HODGKINSON moved,—That the county of Wallace, being made to fulfil the duties devolved upon it by the Abolition and Counties Acts, which require that it should construct bridges and other expensive works formerly done by the Provincial Government, and three bridges being urgently required over the Aparima River—namely, at Collie’s Ford, the Yellow Bluff, and the' Upper Ford—tho Colonial Government he requested to construct the same, and that this House will on Wednesday, the 28th instant, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider of an address to his Excellency the Governor, requesting that he will be pleased to place on the Supplementary Estimates the sum of £3OOO for the above purpose. Iu moving motion he felt he occupied a degrading hut for that tho last party in office was responsible. The Hon. Mr. MACANDREW had no objection to the motion, but said he should deal with the question in his Public Works Statement. Motion agreed to. JUDICIAL RETURNS. Mr, BARTON moved for several returns in reference to special juries, number of arrests by police for vagrancy and debt, with certain particulars. The motions were agreed to. REWJ MANIOI'OTO. The Hon. Mr. FOX moved, —That tho letter from D. O’Carroll, containing remarks alleged to have been made by Eewi Maniopoto, in reference to a speech made by the mover in this House, be printed. Also, that any letter received by the Government from Rewi, on tho same subject, be laid before this House. Ho feared he was being misrepresented to tho natives, especially leading chiefs like Rewi, and wanted to see what Rewi had said. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN had no objection to the motion, and in the course of his remarks read a letter from Rewi to himself, advising Mr. Fox to follow in the steps of Sir O. Grey ami Mr. Sheehan. , Mr. SUTTON accused the Government of having, in the matter of the Native Lands Bill debate and other questions, misrepresented the Opposition to the natives, principally by withholding information from them ; and proceeded to speak of what had been done in reference to communication with Tawhiao last year. The Hon. Mr. STOUT rose to a point of order. It was unfair to attack the Native Minister when ho had no opportunity of

replying, ami besides the remarks were out of order. The SPEAKER ruled Mr. Sutton out u£ order. Sir GEORGE GREY disclaimed -any action on the part of the Government to misrepresent Mr. Eox. Rewi had his own interpreter. , _ The Hon. Mr. FOX did not charge the Government with so doing, but still contended lie had been rnisrepresente ', or else Rewi would not have conceived ill-will towards him. He was not satisfied that even Rewi s interpreter was a proper channel of communication, ihe Hansard reports of these debates ought to be printed in Maori lor circulation among the natives. The motion was agreed to. COEUE3CONDENOE WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE. The Fmi. Mr. FOX moved,—That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency the Governor, requesting him to direct to bo laid before this House copies of all correspondence between himself and the Secretary of State for the Colonies which has_ taken place since last session of Parliament. There was very little correspondence yet laid before the House, and lie thought there would be some kept back. It was important as a matter of record and history that as heretofore all correspondence should be placed before the House, therefore be moved in the matter. He made the motion in a proper spirit, and considered it reasonable. The Hon. Mr. STOUT said the Government had no objection. Sir GEORGE GREY explained, m auswer to an incidental remark in .reference to dispatches anent two days’ pay, that he had been compelled to write on the subject on account of having to send Home a return in respect to liia salary. As Premier he wished to say, further, that the time had now arrived when the correspondence between the Governor and the Home Government should no longer be treated as of interest to the colony, except formal correspondence with respect to Bills, or addresses to her Majesty. There would then he less chance of trouble, and it would be au indication of the thorough independence of the colony. The Hon. Mr. FOX said he entirely dissented from the hon. gentleman. It was of the utmost importance that the House should know all that passed between the Governor and the Home authorities except what was of the most confidential character. If the hon gentleman said we had cut connection with the mother country, he could understand him, but while the Government tendered his Excellency advice upon which despatches were written, the whole of the correspondence should be placed before the House regularly. The motion was agreed to. RAILWAY EMPLOYES. Mr. MANDERS moved, —That it is expedient that the Government should amend the regulations which govern the employes of the Railway Department, so that they may, during the year, obtain a week or a fortnight's holiday, under such conditions as may be arranged with the managers of the several railway depots. Th/Hon. Mr. STOUT said the motion was absurd. Let the responsibility rest on the department, Mr. FELDWICK considered the question of the utmost importance, as the lives of passengers depended upou the care of these men. It was a subject on which the House should express an opinion. Mr. GREEN recognised the importance of the subject, but agreed with the AttorneyGeneral that the matter must be left to the department. Mr. JOYCE thought the thanks of the House were due to the hon. member tor Wakatipn for having brought the subject forward, and proceeded to complain of the chaotic condition of the rules in the Public Works Department, Mr. MACANDREW thought there was no reason for any complaints in respect to this matter. Mr. WOOD believed the matter requited attention, but disapproved of the House interfering. Mr. HANDERS, with a view to getting a committee appointed to make enquiries, asked leave to withdraw the motiou. Motion negatived; Mr. Barff having objected to its withdrawal. PROVINCIAL DISTRICT REVENUE. Mr. GREEN moved,—That there he laid before this House a return, in tabular form, showing the total amount of Consolidated Revenue received in each provincial district for the year 1877-78. . Also, the amount expended within each provincial district during said period—lst, out of Consolidated Revenue; 2nd, out of loan. Such return to specify (1) the portions which have been expended for general purposes (all others, excepting native and defence); (2) those which have been expended for native and defence purposes; and (3) the percentage each such expenditure bears to the revenue derived from provincial district; being a continuation of Return B-8 of last session. The Hon Mr. BALLANCE said the returns would he very expensive, and must be very partial. Mr. GREEN could not conceive how that could be the case, seeing it was a comtinuation of a return previously presented. The motion was agreed to. ■ SURVEYS. Mr. BBETHAM moved, —That a select committee be appointed to inquire into the present mode of conducting the-surveys of the colony; with power to call for persons and papers. The committee to consist of Messrs. Stout, Bastings, Rolleston, Carrington, Ormond, Williams, McMinn, Fox, and the mover. Three to form a quorum ; to report in a month. He drew a picture n£ the evils resulting from the present system in consequence of roads being laid off without reference to engineering difficulties and the natural features of the country. He thought the engineer should precede the surveyor; then the result would he satisfactory. The experiment had been tried in the case' of the Feilding Corporation with great success. There was a survey of the Forty-Mile Bush proceeding, in which the old system was being pursued, and great inconvenience and difficulty would result. Mr. GIBBS seconded, and corroborated what had fallen from the hon. member for Wairarapa. The Hon. Mr. STOUT said if the House desired the new system, with a staff of road engineers all over the colony, the best way would have been to have brought forward a motion affirming the principle ; but this was a most unfair motion to bring forward. What were they to inquire into ? Why, the whole working of the Survey Department. Let the matter be brought forward as a distinct motion. Mr. KELLY thought the land laws, not the surveyors, were to blame. Roads should he laid off before the laud was sold. Mr, MURRAY quite approved of the action of the mover, and hoped he would press the motion. Mr. McMINN supported the motion. Mr. BEBTHAM, in replying, said the committee could also inquire into the five per cent, question and other points, for he believed the whole system at present was radically wrong, The motion was negatived on the voices. HOUSE COMMITTEE. On the motion of Mr. Barff, the name of Sir. R. Douglas was added to the House Committee. MINES ACT, 1877. Mr. MANDERS moved, —That the Goldfields Committee be instructed to consider certain points in the Mines Act, with a view of suggesting amendments. A debate ensued, and was interrupted by the arrival of the hour of half-past five. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. MINES REGULATION KILL. Mr. WASON, in moving the second reading of this Bill, referred to the measures that were previously taken for preventing the growth of what was known as tho “truck” system. The Bill which ho now brought in was very similar to tho one carried through tlm House of Representatives by the Hon. Mr. Richardson a few sessions ago. He had not learnt, however,,that any action had been taken under thatßill by tho Superintendents of any of the provinces, and practically for tho last four years thu Bill had remained a dead letter. The coal trade was assuming such magnitude that be thought the Bill should ho brought into operation with the least possible delay. Tho coal produced in tho colony to something like 300,000 tons per annum, of which 140,000 were consumed in the colony itself. There were altogether thirty-two colleries in full working order in New Zealand, and this fact alone was sufficient to show that an Act of this kind should be brought into immediate operation. To prevent accidents, it was necessary that all due precautions should be taken, and the Bill which ho now hold in his hand contained the required provision in this respect, as all persons assuming the management of mines would have to undergo an examination as to competency. Tho mines wore at present being worked on no regular system, as the reports which had been furnished to the Government clearly showed. Ho had thought

it would have been better to bring in a Bill to deal with coal mines only, but he had brought in a Bill that would have general application, after ascertaining that many lion, members, those from the goldfields especially, wished to have a general measure passed. He hoped the House would agree to tho second reading of the Bill, In this matter the Legislature was just as much called upon to interfere as in tho passing of a Shipping Act. The miners, like any other class of the community, required to be protected, and to ensure their safety and protection from accident it was just as necessary that the managers of mines should pass an examination as doctors, lawyers, and other professional men. After an inaudible observation from the Hon. Mr. Ballanoe, the Bill was read a second time. ONEHUKGA GRAMMAR SCHOOL HILL. On tho motion of Mr. O’Rorke, the second reading of this Bill was fixed for Wednesday next. NAPIER SWAMP NUISASCF. ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. SUTTON moved the second reading of this Bill. The motion was agreed to, and the Bill read a first time, and ordered to be committed on Wednesday next. PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION BILL. Tho debate on the second reading of this Bill was resumed. ' Mr. JOYCE said that the speech of the hon. member for Waikato in moving the second reading of this Bill would stand recorded in Hansard as a monument of patient industry, research, and reckless use of tho scissors. He looked upon the gift'which tho hon. member for Waikato wished to give the country very much in the same light as he regarded a man making a present of an to somebody else which was so. hampered with mortgages and rent charges as uot to be worth having. He (Mr. Joyce) would ask—Did they want the representation of minorities in that House ? He did not think so. At present they had all religions represented, from tho Jew to the Spiritualist; tho teetotallers were, represented ; women's rights were represented; the land class was represented, but they did not represent a majority of population ; the Tories were represented in that House, and democracy of a very advanced type was also represented. But the majority was not represented in that House ; when he said the majority, he meant the wages classes. The laborer and the artisan were not represented in proprta persona:, and they constituted the majority of the population. It was his opinion that minorities were too much represented iu that House, The landed class, as he said before, was very largely represented, and but for this fact hon. members would not have seen such large tracts of land passing into the hands of private speculators. If the hon, member for Waikato were sincere in his desire to do something for the good of the country, that hon. member would adopt the course which he (Sir. Joy cel intended to suggest, and that was, to have the Bill read that day six mouths, which he now begged leave to move. Mr. THOMSON said the Bill brought in by the hon. member for Waikato appeared to he an attempt to remedy what seemed to him (Mr. Thomson) to be a very undesirable state of things so far as the question of representation was concerned. The hon. member for Waikato had told them that a pure democracy was the governing of all the people by the people. It was impossible that alt tho people of the colony could assemble in one place to make laws, and the object of the hon. member for Waikato seemed to be to have New Zealand represented in miniature by a certain number of chosen representatives. The object was a very laudable one, and he thought the country and the House ought to he thankful to the hon. member for bringing the matter forward. The Hare system had been very much referred to ; but it was an experimental system, which he did not think the hon. member for Waikato had thoroughly worked out and considered. But now that public attention was directed to the matter, he trusted that public men and the people of the country would give it their earnest consideration, in order that at some future time a measure might be passed into law which would have the eifect of placing the question of representation on a more satisfactory footing. Mr. OLIVER said he considered tho Bill which had been brought in by the lion, the Attorney-General tho more preferable of the two, because it was at the same time progressive and conservative. He believed they could only progress by easy steps, and by not going too fast or too far, as he had heard Mr. John Bright say in 1867 with regard to Mr. Disraeli's Refoim Bill. Anyone who had heard the speech of the hon. member for Waikato in introducing his Bill must give that hon. member credit for a desire to see that Bill placed on the Statute-book, because if it woie otherwise, he could not have paid so much attention to the subject. A good deal of reference, had been made to what was called the Hare system, and it was rather erroneously stated that that system was a system for the representation of minorities. Now, anyone who had read Mr, Hare’ll book with any degree of care and {attention must see that so far from being a system for the representation of minorities, it was a system for the representation of majorities according to their preponderance, just as minorities were represented according to' their smallness. He thought, therefore, that the hon. the Attorney-General had been somewhat too severe in his criticism of tho Haro system of representation. Neither had justice been done to the Hare system by the hon. member for Waikato. He referred to it in terms of praise, and led the House to believe that the Bill he brought in was founded on that system, hut when hon. members came to examine the provisions of the Bill, they found that it was not the Hare system at all, but something else. One objection that might be urged against the adoption of the Hare system was, that although it might he found to work very well on the occasion of a general election, still it would not work satisfactorily in as election for the return of one representative. At a general election, all tho elections would come off on the same day, but in the case of an election of one representative, it would bo impossible to get all the electors of the country to vote for the return of one candidate to fill a seat rendered vacant by the death or resignation of the sitting members, or through any other cause. Objection was also urged against the Hare system on the ground that it was exceedingly intricate ; but in his (Mr, Oliver’s) opinion all the intricacy would devolve on tho Registrar-General. It was also urged against the Hare system that under its operation they would have a House composed of representatives of cliques and crotchets. Ho did not think that the House would be anything the worse through having amongst its members a few enthusiasts. As a young member, ho could not help remarking the absence of enthusiasm or anxiety for the carrying out of certain principles ; there was not much enthusiasm shown on the subject now under consideration, and perhaps the presence of a few enthusiasts would alter the tone of their debates. No groat object could,iu his opinion, be attained without enthusiasm, and if the Hare system would have the effect of bringing a few enthusiasts into that House, it would so far do a great deal of good. Mr. REES said if the hon. member who had just sat down had been in the House for the past few sessions, he would have had no cause to complain of the want of enthusiasm that now appeared to him to characterise the debates this year. There was pne man in that House who had fought hard for the adoption of certain principles in the face of every species of ridicule and discouragement. There were other hon. members who supported him, mid who shared with him the enthusiasm that displayed itself for two or three sessions before the present one. They had fought for a.cause and had won tho battle ; they were now reaping the harvest they had sown, and he supposed this accounted for the absence of enthusiasm of which the hon. member for Dunedin city so much complained, and for tho manner which hon. members now had of getting on their feet, saying what they had to say in a quiet sort of fashion, and then resuming their seats. With regard to tho Bill now under consideration, he begged to say at once that ho would support the amendment for the second reading the Bill that day six months. He objected to tho Bill, because its adoption would lead to tho return of nothing more nor less than puppets, at all events as far as three-fourths of the members of the House wore concerned. The monied class would ho enabled to combine together, only a certain set of men would he put forward as candidates, and tho employment of electioneering agents would have a most pernicious effect. The poorer classes could not possibly form combinations which would he able to cope with those formed by tho monied class of people in tho country. Mr. MOSS said he was behind no one in a desire to see the question of representation settled upon a most liberal basis. Ho was in favor of a broad system of suffrage, with some wholesome check, and therefore it was that he agreed with the Bill brought down by the Government, a« it provided for a residential qualification extending over two years. This, in his opinion, was a check of a very wholesome character* With regard to the Hare system, ho did hot c’ce how it could bo brought

into operation with advantage. He had brought in a Bi‘l with a view of making the Hare system applicable to «ir.i election of municipal and other In al bo he *. He thought he had drafted a very line Bill, but when ho came to the clause with regard to the Registrar, he got stuck there. Ho found that the electors could so arrange masters as to give certain candidates a certain quota and nothing more, and that the result would be that the majority would not be represented Seeing the diffi* culties that stared him id the face against the adoption of the Hare system, even so far as the elections of municipal and other local bodies were concerned, he had asked leave to withdraw the Bill. The hon. member for Parnell expressed a hope that any legislation the House might adopt would be received with satis f action outside. Their present system was one of centralisation of the most advanced type, and a complete system of decentralisation was the only system that would give satisfaction to the public. They had been suffering Iron) the tyranny of Under-Secretaries —a system which placed all power in the hands of the Undersecretaries employed in the public service. While this system of centralisation existed any necessary reductions in the public expenditure could uofc and would not be made, aud a thorough system of decentralisation was the only cure for the evils that now existed and which were bo loudly complained against. (Hear, hear) The Hon. Mr. GISBORNE objected to the BUI of the hon. member for Waikato. If the principle of representation according to, numbers were adopted, then the country districts would bo swamped by tin cities, as very shortly the cities would have a larger amount of representation than was fair or reasonable as compared with the amount of representation belonging to the country districts. While voting for the rejection of the Bill brought in by the hon. member for Waikato, he must say that this Bill contained certain provisions which he should.like to see incorporated in the Government Bill, especially those relating to the formation of the rolls, to election petitions, and to bribery and corrupt practices. The incorporation of these latter provisions would do away with the necessity of having a Bribery Bill in addition to an Electoral Bill, and he trusted the Government would adopt the suggestion he made. Mr. TOLE agreed with the hon. member for Totara that the B ; ll brought down by the hou. member for Waikato contained several provisions that might be incorporated with advantage in the Bill introduced by the Government. He liked the Bill of the hon. member for Waikato iu one respect—that it did not propose to extend the suffrage to women. He did not mean to gush over this question, but would merely say that he was opposed to the extension of the suffrage to women. As to manhood suffrage, be had always spoken iu favor of it, and he was glad to see that the Government Bill provided for manhood suffrage, with a certain residential and educational qualification. The Bill brought iu by the lion, member for Waikato provided really for no educational qualification whatever, because it was open to the returning officer to show electors how to vote. The Government measure made all necessary provision with regard to the registration of votes. He did not agree with the doing away of the practice of electioneering speeches, because ho believed it bad rather a good effect than otherwise. He did not pretend to be much of a speaker; but ho believed that but for being able to make a speech at the hustings he would have been beaten. As it was, he had succeeded in driving an old politician from the field. He did not concur in the provision contained in the Bill of the hon. member for Waikato making it necessary for candidates to deposit £lO. He did not agree with the proposal to shut up public-houses on election days, as be did not believe any good would result from it. Ho would vote against the BUI brought in by the hon. member for Waikato, oecause it would place too much power in the hands of the Registrar-General, and would have a very centralising tendency, which was most objectionable. He objected to the adoption of the Hare system without further inquiry. His present belief was that it was too tranquil a system, and that it would lead to a great deal of collusion. He felt sure the House and the country would feel indebted to the hou. member for Waikato for. having brought the question so prominently forward, and perhaps that hon. member would suggest the appoint of a commission during the recess to inquire into the working of the Hare system of representation. Meantime, he would vote against the second reading of the Bill. Mr. HURSTTTOUSE opposed the second reading of the Bill brought in by the hou. member for Waikato, He felt sorry at having to vote against a Bill brought iu by a gentleman holding so high a position in the esteem of the House and the country as the hou. member for Waikato ; bub he was compelled to do so on this occasion, because the Bill contained a most objectionable feature—that of fixing the representation on the basis of population. If this principle were admitted, then the country districts would be swamped by the towns, aud in r very short time New Zealand would be governed entirely by its four principal cities. The Bill brought down by the Government he accepted as being the lesser of two evils ; but it contained many provisions which he should like to see expunged or amended in committee. Mr. WHITAKER, in reply, said it was not his intention to detain the House with any lengthened remarks with reference to what had been said by various hon. members in the course of the debate which had taken place on his Bill. It seemed to him that the feeling of the House appeared to be against the adoption of a new plan. This was generally the fate of new plans when they were first proposed, but he had no doubt that a system like, the one which he had embodied iu the measure now under consideration would be adopted at some future time. If the hon. member for Wallace would withdraw his amendment be (Mr. Whitaker) would withdraw his Bill. (Hear, hear.) By this means he would be enabled to move such amendments as lie thought should be made iu the Government measure. He had only one object in view—that of having the best possible measure passed into law for placing the question of parliamentary representation on a satisfactory footing, and to attain that object he would assist the Attorney-General as far as lay iu his power. (Hear, hear.) Mr. JOYCE said he had much pleasure in acceding to the request of the hon. member for Waikato, and begged leave to withdraw his amendment. The amendment was withdrawn accordingly. Mr. WHITAKER thereupon obtained leave i to withdraw his motion for the second reading of the Bill. WATTLE BATIK. The House resolved itself into committee of the whole, to consider of an address to the Governor, requesting his Excellency to place upon the Estimates a sum to encourage, by way of bonus, the production of wattle-bark in the colony. Sir GEORGE GREY said the Government had considered this subject. The Government would place on the Estimates a sum of £IOO for the compilation of a book setting forth all the exotic plants likely to succeed in New Zealand, and they thought this plan would better meet the object aimed at by the hon. member for Parnell than the offering •of a bonus, ns proposed. After some discussion, Mr. Moss accepted the suggestion made by the hon. member for Mount Ida, and the chairman left the chair. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On the motion of Mr. Curtis, the resolutions with regard to the constitution of the Legislative Council were made an order of the day for Thursday next. WAIIIOA HARBOR BOARD. Mr. SUTTON moved the second reading of this Bill, explaining that the district contained a very large extent of good land, about 400,000 acres of which belonged to thejJGovernment. At present, the only means of getting to the district from Napier was by sea, a voyage of about four hours, as there were no* roads affording communication with the district. If the improvements wore carried out which the Bill provided for, the value of land would very largely increase, and the district would be opened up for settlement. He hoped the House would agree to the second reading, iu order that the BUI might go before the Waste Lands Committee. The Hon. Mr. STOUT said the Government had no objection to the Bill being road a second time, but the Government would not pledge itself to acquiesce in the schedule of endowments. Mr. WOOLCOGK opposed the granting of endowments, except iu cases where the works proposed were of general public utility, and he was glad to see that tho Government intended to take a stand iu this matter. Captain RUSSELL strenuously urged tho claims of the Wairoa District, and the necessity for tho constitution of a Harbor Board. The motion for second reading was agreed to, and the Bill was referred to tho Waste Lands Committee. POSTPONEMENTS. On the motion of the Hou. Mr. Stout, the second reading of tho Bribery BUI and the

Local Judicature Bill was made an order of the day for next day. SAVINGS BANK PROFITS BI LTj., The Hon. Mr. STOUT moved the second reading of this Bill. Motion agreed to, Bill read a second time, aud ordered to be committed next day. POSTPONEMENTS. Orders Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, were mndi orders of the day for next day. ADMINISTRATION BILL, The Hon. Mr. STOUT, in moving the second reading of this Bill, explained that one of the provisions of the Bill was to place all real property in the same position as personal property, to be distributed in the same way as personal property in all cases where persons having children died intestate. The Bill contained several other provisions, the operation of which would confer a very considerable boon on tile people of the colony. After a short discussion the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed next day. POLICE FORCE. Adjourned debate on . Mr. Barton’s question relative to the above. The Hon. Mr. STOUT moved an amendment to the effect that the matter be referred to the Gaols Committee, now sitting. He thought that by adopting this course the object of the hon. member for Wellington (Mr. Barton) would be fully met. Mr. BARTON accepted the amendment, which was put and agreed to. ADJOURNMENT. On the motion of the Hon. Mr. BALLANCE, the House adjourned at midnight.