THROUGH COMMITTEE. VARIOUS INTERESTING PROPOSALS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 392, 10 August 1889, Page 5

THROUGH COMMITTEE. VARIOUS INTERESTING PROPOSALS.

Tins Bill, which has been the talk of the colony for the past three weeks, has at length passed through Committee, and will be considered by the House in its amended form to-morrow. On the motion of Mr Seddon a new clause was inserted requiring that authenticated maps of the proposed electoral districts should be laid before the Governor, together with the Commissioners' report. Sir J. Hall moved the insertion of a new clause providing that in any election in an amalgamated city electorate, where three members are to be returned, each elector should be allowed to vote for two candidates and no more. Mr Ballance strongly opposed this. Mr Turnbull deprecated this amendment and that relating to female franchise, as tending to endanger the Bill and destroy the effects ot the last fortnight's negotiations. Dr. Newman and Mr W. P. Reeves considered that the motion was a breach of the compact made between the town and country parties as to the quota ; and that it tended to destroy the power of the Liberal party. Mr Lance was of a similar opinion. Sir J. Hall warmly denied that he had committed any breach of faith. He denied tbat his amendment was likely to kill the Bill, and said that he would not have introduced it had he thought it would have that effect. He said that clause providing for the abolition of the plural vote was much more foreign to the Bill than,half a dozen such amendments as that now under consideration. Ho was willing to take the sense of the Committee on the voices, but felt that the amendment was in the right direction. The clause was negatived by 53 to 10.

FEMALE FRANCHISE. Sir J. Hall said objection had been taken to his moving at the present time the clause of which he had'given notice, extending; the franchise to women. The reason that he had done so was that early in the session he had given notice to move in this direction. On the motion for going into committee on the Registration of Electors Bill it seemed more than doubtful if that opportunity would be afforded him to raise this important question during the present session. He attached so much importance bo it that he was unwilling to endanger its passage in connection with the present Bill or to endanger the measure, if Government would undertake to give him another opportunity of raising the question. The Premier said that it was desirable to

have the Bill disposed of as soon as possible and he promised that if the clause was withdrawn the Government would give an opportunity this session of having the question of female franchise raised in a direct manner. He had no doubt that there was a majority of the House in favour of extending the franchise to women (cries of " no "), and thought that people would be taken by surprise if they found in the morning newspaper that the clause had crept into the Bill. < On Sir J. Hall's saying that they did not intend to move the clause, Mr R. A. Reeves said as the member for Selwyn had withdrawn the clause, he would take up the running and move it. (Laughter.) Members were brimful ot eloquence and their voices on female suffrage ought not be suppi essed. 1 N Mr Ballance wanted to know if the member for Inangahua was in favour of the clause. Mv Reeves: "Most decidedly I am." (Laughter.) On the request of several hon. members the hon. gentleman refrained from moving the clause.

ANOTHER PROPOSED AMEND MENT. Mr Guinness moved a new clause in these terms :— " Unless a candidate at an election receives an absolute majority of the votes recorded, the Returning Officer shall not declare such candidate to be elected, but the Returning Officer shall proceed to take a second poll after giving tne notice in that behalf required by law, at which second poll only the two candidates who have received the largest number of votes at the first poll shall be entitled to be candidates, and the candidate receiving the largest number of votes at such becond poll shall be declared to be elected." He said that 22 members of the present Parliament actually represented a minority of the electors. The clause was negatived by 51 to 18. The Bill was reported as amended.

OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS. Extension of time for a fortnight has been granted in which the Committee appointed to inquire into the claims of old soldiers should biing up their report.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Copyright Bill came before the Legislative Council yesterday. Its object is to remove anomalies from the existing law on the lines of the existing Imperial statute. The Attorney-General stated he did not expect the Bill to be passed, and had merely introduced it in order to make the public familiar with it. The only other business of importance done by the Council was the passing of the Public Reserves Amendment Bill through its final stages.

NEW BILL. The West Coast Settlement Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Mr Taipua yesterday, and read a first time.

AN AWKWARD MISTAKE. An awkward mistake, pregnant wit' 1 serious possibilities, was made last night. It seems that though the Premier agreed to the postponement of the Otago Central Railway Bill, he was absent from the Chamber when the time to Ajhich it waa to be put off was fixed. About half-an-hour afterwards members were astonished, when in the middle of the committee stage of the Law of Libel Bill, to find the Government desirous of reporting progress. On the Speaker resuming the chair, the Premier explained what had occurred, and stated he had been called away to the telephone and had expected to return before the question was decided. He therefore asked leave to move without notice that the order for postponement for a fortnight should be cancelled, and the Bill might be set down for second reading next day. As unanimous consent was notgiven, themotion could not be put. Thereupon the Premier said that as the Bill was an important policy measure he would not think of doing any public business until the vote had been reversed. After giving notice of motion that it be rescinded, he moved the adjournment of the House, which was agreed to; and members separated in a highly expectant state of mind. In the lobbies afterwards Sir Harry had a quiet talk with Messrs Walker, Guinness, and Fraser, who had been the principal objectors, giving them a bit of tongue pill they could hardly have liked. In consequence of this peculiar development, we may have some troubles that will prove interesting.

COAL MONOPOLY. Mr Taylor is to ask the Minister of Mines whether it is true that the Union Steamship Company, which is largely subsidised by Government, has made arrangements in Sydenham and Christchurch whereby the said Company virtually monopolise the West Coast coal trade in that part of the colony, by limiting the supply and regulating the price. Is it true that the Company refuses to supply dealers in West Coast coal with that commodity unless they will undertake to obtain their supplies ot Newcastle coal from the Company's agent ?

ONE MAN ONE VOTE. Referring to the abolition of plural voting, the "Post" of last night says :—: — "Its abolition is not likely to effect any real or appreciable change in the constitution of parties or distribution of political power. As a matter of abstract principle we quite agree with the ' one man one vote ' system ; but practically, now that the city electorates are amalgamated, and all elections take place on the same day, it Trould be impossible foi any large number of electors to exercise more than one vote, no matter in how many districts they may possess qualifications. "

WESTERN AUSTRALIA. Mr R. Reeves has tabled the following motion :—": — " That the Parliament of New Zealand desires to express its sympathy with the people of Western Australia in their efforts to secure responsible governments ; and views with very great regret the attitude taken by the British Parliament in withholding a measure that should be admitted as a right in every one of the Australasian colonies, and that the Premier

be requested to cable this resolution to the I Governor of Western Australia." AGRICULTURAL SCHOLARSHIPS. Mr Monk, as a member of the Board of Education, takes a lively interest in these matters, and, frotn his country connection, in agricultural matters. He now purposes asking the following question of the Minister of Education : — Whether in addition to the present regulations he will arrange for special agricultural scholarships in connection with tho Lincoln College, such privileges being for pupils who, although deficient in those attainments for which scholarships are now granted, yet from their special bent or inclination are likely to acquire distinction in that class of knowledge to which the above-named institution is devoted.

PROHIBITION. Mr Fulton, who is tho principal temperance man in the House, intends asking the Premier whether he will in terms of a resolution of this House oi the 37th ult., introduce a Bill to give effect to the terms of the same, viz., "It is in the opinion of this I House, imperative that Government should,

without delay, introduce a Bill giving power to the people by direct vote at the ballot box, periodically taken, to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors within the district in which they reside."

THE RABBIT NUISANCE. The following is the gist of the annual report of Mr B. P. Bayly, Rabbit Inspector for Auckland District : — _ The Auckland district is peculiarly situated so far as rabbits are concerned. Poison cannot be used, as it would destroy the Maoris' pigs, upon which they principally depend for food, and the greater the bulk of the rabbits either on or adjacent to the native lands. The improvement during the past year, especially since the bonus system has +been adopted with the Waikato natives, is evident ; and should they continue to work as vigorously as has been the case, the pest in the native country will be reduced to a minimum. Between the 31st March, 1888, and the 31st March, 1839, 65,877 skins at 3d, and 2,444 at 2d, were paid for to natives ; or a total of 68,321, with an expenditure of £835 9s lid in payment of skins for the year. The only natural enemies in this district are hawks and cats. The latter are prebty numerous and are of great service, were it possible, 1 should like to see ferrets liberated in the King Country on the verge of the infested area.

MINE MANAGERS' CERTIFICATES The Goldfieldsand Mines Committee have brought down a recommendation to the Government in the direction indicated by me the other day extending for twelve months section 203 of the Mining Act of 1886 relating to mine managers' certificates of competency.