GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2540, 10 August 1893, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Petitions were presented against the compulsory clause in the Shop Hours Bill and in favor of the Direct Veto. Mr Bowen moved that the Council object to certain forest lands in Otago and Wellington Provincial Districts, as shown by certain returns laid on the table, being withdrawn for settlement or other purposes. He objected to forests being destroyed. After discussion, the debate was adjourned. The Public Domains Act Amendment Bill was committed and reported with leave to sit again. The Mangawhai Harbor Endowment Reserves Bill was committed and reported with verbal amendments and was then passed. The Timber Floating Amendment Bill slightly amended in Committee. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. OAMAK.U LOANS CONSOLIDATION BILL. The Oamaru Loans Consolidation Bill waß read a third time and passed.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Ward for one week on account of illness.

Further leave of absence for fourteen days was granted to Sir G. Grey. BEPLIES XO QUESTIONS. Replyiug to Mr Rhodes, the Premier said that the electoral rolls for the respective districts and registration forms would be procurable at all post offices.

Mr Wright asked whether the Minister of Education would during the current half-year allow payments of salary to be made on the working average instead of upon the strict average, owing to the loss of salary falling on teachers in the State schools through the measles epidemic.— Mr Reeves said that he had been making enquiries on the subject, and it would be about fourteen days before the necessary informatioii could be obtained. As soon as it was received he vi ould be able to state what course would be taken.

In reply to Mr Meredith, Mr Reeves said that a good deal more money would be devoted to educational purposes this year than was the case last year, and he did not feel justified in asking the House to make a new departure by voting money for prizes to boys attending State schools for proficiency in elementary military drill. Such prizes, if given at all, should be given by the Education Boards. Replying to Mr T. Thomson, the Pnemier said that it would be a dangerous experiment if an export like Mr (Samuel Vaile were heard at the bar of the House in support of his scheme of railvay management, and the Government therefore did not feel warranted in acceding,to the request of certain petitions presented to the House on the subject. Replying to Mr G. JF. Richardson, the Premier said that the least amount represented by outstanding Treasury bills since the present Government took office was £699,000. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. <3ri the motion of the Premier, it was decided thai- on and after Monday, the 2lst instant, the Souse meet on Mondays at 7.30 p.m. for the consideration of Government business only, and that after Wednesday next Government business take precedence on Wednesday. THE ELECTORAL BILL. The Electoral Bill wa3 further considered in Committee.

Clause 110, relating to the form of counting the votes, elicited a lengthy discussion. The provision that where the ballot papers do not exceed fifty iu number, the ballot box shall be forwarded to the Returning Officer, who shall open it and count the papers, was stronglo opposed by several members as a cumbersome and uncalled for proceeding. .The clause was still under discussion when the House took the 5.30 adjournment.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.cn. In Committee on the Electoral Bill.— Clause 110 was further discussed at great lengths * nß balance of opinion being decidedly a£ a i nst i* l6 proposal contained in the clause witx'i Regard to the boxes. Ultimately sub-section ?' & m 9 n 0 was rejected. Clause 145, Maori representation. Mr Shera moved that in defining the word Maori the word " male " be struck out.

Mr Fish and the Maori members strongly supported the amendment, which, after a short discussion, was agreed to. The Premier stated that he had been informed that there was a serious difficulty in getting Maori women on the roll, and they were also told that Maori women did not want the franchise. However, after the assurance just given by the Native members, he should not oppose the amendment.

Clause 348, qualification of Maori members.

Mr Shera moved . that only male electors should be qualified to bie members of the House for the Maori electoral districts.

The motion was agreed to by 34 to 18. Clause 154, candidates may have the free use of public schoolrooms, etc., fur election meetings. Mr liuckland moved that this clause be struck out, but the amendment was lost on a division by 33 to 15, and the clause retained.

The remaining clauses passed without alteration.

Sir Robert Stout moved a new clause, which stood in Sir John Hall's name, to the effect that every publichouse within two miles of a polling booth should be closed on the polling day under a penalty of forfeiting the license.—After considerable discussion, the proposed new clause was rejected by 31 to 13. Mr Fish moved a new clause, to the effect that the women's franchise shall not take effect till a plebiscite of all men and women iu the polony shall be taken, and a majority of votes recorded in favor oi'V'iving women the suffrage.-=-The clause was lost by 44 to 14. Mr Buchanan moved a new clause giving power to any person to inspect claims for enrolment at the same time and place as he may insect the names already on the r< 11. The Premier approved of the clause, and said that it was a very necessary provision. The clause was carried on the voices. The Premier moved a clause to the effect that the elector must specify which roll he wishes his name to appear on, and if any elector votes or offers to vote in any district other than that in which his name appears on the roll, or allows his name to be retained on more than one roll, he is to be disqualified from voting for six months, and also be liable to a penalty not exceeding £SO. The clause elicited strong opposition from several members. The clause was verbally amended, and was ad<fed to. the BUI by 24 to 12'

The schedules were agreed to with a few immaterial amendments. A new schedule was added settling the polling places which close at 7 o'clock.

The Bill was reported, and the amendments agreed to. The third reading was fixed for Friday next. The House rose at 1.40 a.m.