HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2972, 24 August 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON. „ Friday. The House met at 2.30 to-day. jacksok's bat settlement. Mr Barff gave notice to move for an inquiry into the working of the Jackson's Bay settlement. , AUCTIONEERS' MGBNSES... In reply to Mr Shrimski the Hon. Mr Stout said, there was <no provision for dealing with auctioneers' licenses, phovinciamsm:. Mr Fox asked the Minister for Works whether, at a pubjie banquet in Dunedin

in March last, he made the following statement as reported by a short-hand reporter for the local press, present on the occasion :—" There is now a public opinion being engendered throughout New Zealand which may yet compel Parliament to restore to the people those privileges of which they have been deprived, and to restore those provincial institutions, not such as they we're, but institutions greatly improved, and more adapted to. the altered circumstances of tho Colony." And if it is true that he did use those expressions. The Hon. J. Macandrew said probably he used those words, or something like them, but he could not be expected to remember exactly what .words he used after such a lapse of time ; but if he used that language it was scarcely to be wondered at in his case, looking back on his past career; but he pointed out that in construing his language the words referred to should be read with what, went before and after; in fact, the.tenour of the whole speech should be considered. ' ' .;

CHABITABLE INSTITUTIONS. Mr Stevens asked whether Government will bring in a measure to provide for the management of charitable institu- ' tibnst c'i,J.,.■ '■■,-■ ■ i:>;< The Hon. B. Stout was understood to say .that; Government did not-so intend, but merely to legislate for the disposal of the funds. - ; SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. '{ o.

In .reply to, Mr BariF,,,the. Government promised a return of the population of the Wellington and Westlarid districts, together with the number of -children attend-' ?ing the schools under the Education Act in each of the above-named districts, j ( , i UPPER; THAMES SPECIAL SETTLEMENT.*"

Mr Rowe asked whether Government intended to set aside any lands; in itheUpper Thames for special settlement. j '"; The Hon. R. Stout said they had now no power to do so, but they intended,to take steps in the matter. . iA FBEE AND LIBEBAL CONSTITUTION.

Mr Johnston asked the Premier whether, at a. public ,meeting, in Dunedin in March last, he made| as he* waa reported to hare made, the following statement; or a statement to a similar effect:—"For years they enjoyed' a free and liberal constitution ; no disasters occurred in consequence, but the development of jthet resources of the Colony, and a growth of happiness end: contentment ensued unprecedented in the history of the British colonies. These institutions were sw,ept away. fle i isfced|wheli^er'the|ne# on«r were such as became free men, or Were they likely to conduce to peace and happiness ? " If so, whether it is Ithe intention of the Government to introduce such : institutions * as in their' opinion become free men. ! ;i

The Premier said he was unable! to state from memory whether he used those words at Dunedin, though he knew! he used them in many, other placei, as they .correctly expressed i; hiß opinions ]and t views, and he had nothing to retract. j d!i to the other 'part -6t tltfj question, Ithe introduction of institutions, he intended to address himself to that, as was | his duty. ■'• ili's .:'•' -"<"./■■:■» .j ; ■ FOOD AND DBTTGS AMENDMENT BILL.

The Sale of Food and Drugs Amendment Bill,; introduced by the Hon. Colpnel Whitmore, is a short measure of three clauses to fix the fees, to be paid; by offenders against the Sale of Food (and Drugs Act, ,1877. In respect of analyses under that;: Adt" power' is given to j the 4 Governor to fix and alter fees to be paid in respect of the analysis of any articles of food or drink by any colonial analyst/ and when any person is convicted of an offence under -the f Act, the Magistrate 'is to order that the, fee* and; expenses dental to the analysis of the articles, in ■respect 'of' iwhich; the conviction takes;, place, shall be paid by the person convicted. | I. tJVih TOTB/iEIECTpBAIijBIIL. j .

: ; The adjourned debate on the Electoral Bill was taken; \ -if] Mr Murray opposed the details of! tlift Bill. He thought there should Lave been an appeal to the people before parsing such an Act. Taxation of property withi out-representation was, he thought, little ! short of robbery. While willing to see women ratepayers vote—-but not to enter the House as representatives—he opposed 1 too wide an extension of the franchise, which he feared would in< this colony lead to more intense democracy than was 'seen in Victoria and-the United States,; and all its attendant evils. What ought to be studied in solving these problems of the Government was the creation of a middle class.by doubling.the number of electors' on the roll. It appeared to ihim it was like depriving those men of j half their privileges. He thought the Government deserved thanks for introducing so moderate a measure, because; «yen if not altered in Committee" so much, as he anticipated it would be, it was not likely to be productive of such' radical "changes as to.be dangerous. < Mr Seymour George's only objection to the bill was that it practically disqualified nearly all the miners who lived in tents and huts. , ' Mr Richardson had always, been!prepared to go farther than the Government bill in regard to franchise, and was so still, if Government could see their way. There were portions of the bill he; ob J'eoted to, but others he approved of, as le did of portions of the bill of the member for Waikato, and he would-like to see the best in both adopted, so that when it came out of Committee its own parents would not know it. , ' '

Mr Bryce asked how it was that when the Opposition were so' loud in asserting that the bill did not go far enough |they did not bring in such a bill,"or a more extreme measure still, during the long existence of the continuous Ministry? His own opinion was the bill' went too far, as there was no real < desire in' the country for the extension. Were it sot so, the table would be covered with petitions for the extended franchise . Still, as the measure was a Government one, he would vote for it, in the same spirit as lif he was giving a casting, vote, which might turn a Government out or put it in. » Mr Gibbs approved of the residential qualification, but manhood suffrage was not wanted in his part of, t the country. As to the Maori vote, he was anxious to see the Maoris individualise their titles, pay their rates, and have the same representation as Europeans. He. hoped the time would soon, arrive when the special representation of Maoris would be done away with; but, taking tHe bill as a whole, he could/give it his heartiest support. , „,../, Mr Fitzroy was surprised at the discrepancy between the bill the Premier's policy.. * There was no necessity for the measure. The. great difficulty in the electoral question was to get people to register, and that would be the same

with the present bill. Ho heartily approved of keeping polls open late, to allow working meu to vote after their day's labor. He opposed the special Maori vote, but would give them increased representation. He would support the bill.

The Hon. Hoani Nahe thought Europeans were afraid, without reason, of the Maori dual vote. No harm could arise

from it, and it had the advantage *of leading Maoris to think their interests were watched over. If, however, fuller' ; representation of the Maori was granted j he would waive his objection. I Mr McMinii thought the bill went I unnecessarily far in regard to suffrage, ! and he felt pretty certain the country i did not require it. He could say his own district did not want it. He approved of the Maori qualifications. They ought • to be encouraged in every way to place themselves on the roll. He disapproved of the alteration regarding nominations. He did not believe the new bill would (add many more to the roll, still he would support the second reading. •' '

Mr Jiowe said he would support the bill, though he did not; think itwent far enough when they recollected the professions of the Premier for the last two or three years. Manhood suffrage had been his and party's cry. Well, he was sorry they were not consistent. If no one moved ah.amendment on the residential, clause,".he would propose, that' it be reduced to 12 months, as a certain residence was necessary. Maoris should have.no more than one vote. Speaking in this connection, the hpn. member referred to certain registration of Maoris at the Bay of. Islands, saying that" greater harm or a greater sin never'occurred in; connection with an election,"'and he hoped the like ; would never occur again. He had' no" sympathy with the principle that men should have one vote; and one rote only. If a man, by industry and perseverance, acquired property, he, should, be., allowed a vote for it, no matter in what part' of, the colony. He hoped the 'Bill.would be largely amended in committee. Mr W. Wood, referring to the remarksr as to the difference between the present bill and< the - promises ■of the" Premier, asked the members of the late Government whether they had ever bedn 'unanimous upon any great question, or whether they were unanimous even now. While -approving generally of the bill he hoped some temporary expedient' would be adopted so as to remove the great inequalities of representation that existed at ', the present time. [ & Mr Murray-Aynsley said hViapproved of many of the provisions of the bill, especially,that part doing.away with the present system''of nomination, which was not in accordance)with the true principles of the ballot. He also hoped numbers would be dispensed with on the ballot papers, for as long as that- was retained people would think they were known As to closing public houses during' election, no occasion for. it,had been.shown in, this colony. He thought the bill ought not to have been brought into operation before a re-adjustment of the representation Bill was'introduced.' ' ° I Debate interrupted 5.30. ,'.•■■. "