POLITICAL.

South Canterbury Times, Volume XV, Issue 2061, 1 November 1879, Page 3

POLITICAL.

LOWER HOUSE

QUESTIONS. FIRST BEADING-. ELECTOBAD BBANCHISB. Yesterday, in the House of Eepresentatives, in reply to questions put Members of the Cabinet stated that • telegrams were sent by the late Ministry on electioneering subjects as public telegrams, and if, on examination, the Government comsiderqd it would not be prejudicial to the public service, copies thereof would be produced; that the Government concurred in the opinion ot the late Government that it was inexpedient for the Agent-General to be a candidate for a seat in the British Parliament; that the ,had been requested to retire from the directorship of the New Zealand Agricultural Company, and he would be expected to comply with that request within a reasonable time; that steps would be taken to secure 4000 acres in the district of Wellington, as provided for by the University Reserves Act 1875. and that a larger area than 20,000 acres, set apart in Tawhaia, and afterwards appropriated for another purpose, had been set apart; that the amount of loss to the revenue during the last nine months was —in tea, £24,000; and sugar, £61,000 ; that a suggestion, made by the Conference of Eailway Commissioners for the alteration of the railway tarifr, was under consideration. A Bill to reduce the price charged tor miners’ rights was read a first time. The second reading of the Qualihcacation of Electors’ Bill was moved by the Premier. A debate ensued, in which bir Geo, Grey stated the Bill was not what the country expected, and he would do his best to defeat it.-Mr Gisborne denounced the proposed modification on the Maori franchise before informing the House what was to take its place. —Mr Eeader Wood advocated takmg away the property qualification and a modification of the residental clause. The debate was interrupted by the 6.30 adjournment. On resuming, , • , The debate was continued by Mi Hall stating the Government did not intend preventing persons having votes in more than one district. The clause preventing the exercise of more than one vote was a mistake.