GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2242, 18 August 1891, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wellington, Autrust 14. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. LIBEL BILL. . The Libel Bill was read a third time and passed. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. An Imprest Supply Bill for £250,01.0 was passed through all its stages. FACTORY BILL. The Factory Bill was read a first time. TRUCK BILL. The Truck Bill was recommitted and reported as amended, the third readirg being fixed for Tuesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House mot at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. REPLIES TO QUESIONS., . Replying to Sir George Grey, the Premier said that the Government intended to proceed with, the Payment of Members Bill next week. RABBIT NUISANCE ACT AMENDMENT BILL, The Rabbit Nuisance Act Amehdmeai Bill, to give effect to the recommendation, of the Stock Committee with respect to, rabbit-proof fences, 'was read a second' time. workmen’s lien bill. Mr Reeves moved the second reading of the Workmen’s Lien Bill, to makebetter provision for securing payment of wages due to workmen. He said that i 1 was one of the Labour Bills,, and won; be passed on to the. Labour Bill Com mittee. The motion was agreed to. CONSOLIDATED STOCK BILL. The Premier moved the second readin of the Consolidated -Stock Bill, to enabl the Government to bring loans raise f under several Acts under the New Zealand Consolidated Stock Act, 1877. He explained that the total amount cd loans proposed to be converted into stoc!under this Bill was £2,500,000, and -most of the securities fell due in about fifteen years. The motion was agreed to, and the Bill referred to the Public Accounts Committee. marriage act amendment bill. The Marriage Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee with verbal amendments, distillation act amendment bill. The Distillation Act Amendment Bill was committed. Some discussion took place on clause 2, which gives the Commissioner of Customs power to grant a wine still licence. Mr Bryce remarked that the most formidable objection to the Bill was tha>. it would facilitate smuggling, and make it impossible to detect it. The Premier replied that smuggling had not taken place in other colonies where a similar Act was in force. The Bill passed through Committee* without amendment. PETITION. Sir John Hall presented a petition in favour of the franchise being extended to women. The petition, -which wa seventy yards long, contained the signtures of 9685 persons. BILLS PASSED THROUGH COMMITTEE. The Customs and Excise Duties Bill Trustees Act 1883 Amendment Bill, Pa and Telegraph Classification and Regal tiou Act Amendment Bill, Public Bodie Powers Act Amendment Bill, RjvBoards Act Amendment Bill, and Pu. 1 . ]Rtoy©nues Bill* wor© pn-ssod thioug Committee without material amend ment.

IK COMMITTEE. The Selectors Land Bevalu.iti Continuance Amendment Bill ws co . aidered in Committee, when the amen ment by the Waste Lands Committee w f agreed to. , „ The Electoral Bill was further con aidered in Committee. The question o. a former occasion was that * c parson not include female, and on Sir Joh Hall’s amendment .that “ persm includes female in the iuterpretatm danse being put, Mr Pish moved that the chairman laavthe chair. Hd said that the Premier ha ■ been guilty of a broach of faith in givin, his consent to the moving of an amen :) ment providing, for the giving of th'franchise to women. He did not blan. Sir John flail for moving the as he had been a consistent advocate < female franchise, but he did not thiiik th Government whom he (MrFish)had hithe - ■■ to supported should give countenance to ■ proposition of this kind. It was on!' a small section of the women of th. colony that asked for the franchise, Ec spoke at very great length in opposite > to Sir J. Hall’s amendment. Mr Blake said that the members of tV House were making themselves thlaughing stock of the world by advcaatii’r such a proposal as that of the famak franchise. Mr R. H. Reeves spoke in favour cf the amendment. Mr Dawson and Mr Swan opposed it. Mr Fisher said that'the Governmeru were taking the right course to kill a Bill which they regarded as of great importance. Mir W. P. Beeves said that seeing there was ho prospect of the discussion j coming to an end he would move that j progress be reported. . j Mr Buckland protested against thr. motion. Sir J. Hall expressed his great regret that the* Government had given to the proceedings which had characterise! the evening. After farther discusssion Mr Saunders said that they might just as well go hon«. if three or four stonowallers were going to stop the business of the House simpl v bacanse their seats would be if. danger : c female franchise were given effect to. Mr Earnsliaw warned the Governrne" , t that if they flinched on this questK they would so weaken., support that tothe end of next session theywould scarce! jj. now where they were. Mr Beeves said he loft the matter o reporting progress in the hands of the committee, and if the desire was to go o lie was quite willing to do that He reminded members that as the Bill was « Government measure it would come up to Mr J. Kelly, Mr Beeves : said he would represent to the Premier /who was absent on account of ■ll-health) lllflt to be a strong fueling i j* jßwi w m few m - *

Mr Wright th mglit' if progress was reported nothing more would be heard of the Bill this session. Mi’ Meredith remarked that there we brer fifty mombe r s iu the .Home piodg »•! to support the Bill. Mr Bucklund appealed to the Ho use ‘ > maintain it 1 digiuiyby keeping the emit- ■' of its own bn.:i ■ "• :i. Mr Bp. Thompson could see this won- • not be the last stonewall of the ; ■-'sioo Eventually the motion vJ >rt p .> gross was carried by 20 to 18. BILLS PASSED. All the Bills passed through the com mittee daring the afternoon and evening sittings, excepting the Public Bevem e Bill, were reported, read a third time, an . passed. The House rose at 2.30 a.m.