EVENING SITTING.

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

EVENING SITTING.

Friday. The House resumed at 7.30 to-night on: the Electoral Bill. ,- ;r fi Dv Wallis feared that if the amendment of the hpn. member, for Caversham was carried,, electoral reform .would, be .postponed till next year, j and-, probably indefinitely. He objected" to.the, Maori special rote,,as he maintained that if the Maori double- vote were allowed the majority of the- constituencies in both Islands would be placed under the, control, of the Premier and the Native Minister.' Tho -hon.''gentleman the a proceeded at some length to urge the claims of women to the franchise, .replying, to^ the*yarious Te'asppsrurg'ed -against* the' '.possibility of wbmeh-sb^inß'-allowed a seat in the House. It wasl said 1, : th«-"proper sphere for women was private life, but if they shared private life with man, why should he not share public life with ttjem. The whole and only objection against so doing, was nothing but prejudice: —a prejudice that smacked of the middleages. It was true that women yere indifferent and , apathetic in exercising the franchise when given them, but that was only the effect of .ages of education. The same argument might be used against granting the franchise to men. ' Mr Barton supported all the general principles of the bill, including the special 1 franchise of Maoris. He was, however, | opposed to the female suffrage, on the ground that at the present stage of progress of the i colony it was inexpedient. Regarding 'keeping open the 'polls; he suggested that they should be, opened earlier in the morning as well as later in the evening) so as to suit the convenience of working men. He strongly opposed j putting numbers on the ballot papers, so as to identify the voter with the vote. This was an infringement of the true secrecy of the ballot. Sir B. Douglas said that on this bill the Opposition were all of one mind, and 'he felt that he was the only, member ,whd stood in opposition to the bill. Speaking ■ for his constituents he could say they did not care about such a measure. One fundamental' principle he objected to because it gave votes to a class who, not. having been brought up as English,, not having a veneration for the traditions of the liberties and the. institutions of England, were not likely to look.at public questions as Englishmen would. He also objected to, having' the European ivote swamped by Maori votes. He would vote against the bill, and would divide' the House upon it; but, if defeated, would do b,is best to improve the' bill in Committee. ' • '

A. division was called for by Sir E. Douglas, the result showing that he stood • alone, Mr' Turnbull acting ai .teller in order to enable him] to recordhis own vote! The voters , were 61 against 2. Before the bill was read a second time, Mr Shrimski announced that he would give the bill his hearty support, He felt that if full rights and liberties were not 1 granted to the people the colony was in very great danger of being afflicted with; Socialistic demonitrations, such as were to be witnessed on the Continent at present. ' • ' ' Mr Bees spoke at length, congratulating the .House, and, the Government on the great advance in liberal reform made, of wljich the bill was an indication., He hoped this occasion would be the -inauguration of many future great reforms., At 10 o'clock the Hon. E. Stout was replying to the arguments against the main principles of the bill, which will, doubtless, pass its second reading at the conclusion of his remarks.

This day. ELECTOBAL BEFOBM BILL DEBATE COKTINUED.

Shortly before ten Mr Stout proceeded to reply to the various arguments urged against the bill. He regarded the property qualification as the only means of preventing the disfranchisement of property holders, who had to move from place to place or visit England for a term* The residential clause would exclude these if they were away for six months. Indirectly the property qualification would tend to split up large estates by encouraging the acquirement of small holdings. Only, one avenue to the franchise would not have been desirable, not opening, the door wide enough. But if anything more free were given, it would enable a/horde of men to come from an adjoining colony to vote. The bill, .wag the only one which gave a man a, vote without asking for. a property qualification. In this mttterthe Government did not go too far, but went hand in hantf with public opinion.' He' tof<Bn&«f rfte*pro. posals to give persons votes in different districts. ' No harm conld-'arise front 'the ' woman franchise, because the question had been, tested,in school, boards and municipal institutions.* ; '-'Ballot 1 papers must be numbered, otherwise there was nothing to prevent people voting at every bdoth in ft place. / Public opinion justified a special vote to Maoris. If Maoris were equally represented with Europeans it would result in Maoris sending eight or nine members to the House. He contended that the Gpverninent^fulfiU^d it* promises, and claimed that it' was proposdeal with- the questions of judicature,' finance and representation—questions of far greater import than any other Government ever attempted to deal with in a, thoroughly comprehensive manner; while the late' Government KWd; 'said that nothing but political. rest was required— in fact'had nothing to'do'i The Government had set before'tlie country its aims, and would- endeavor tOTcarryjrout those aims slowly and surely, likejMessrs Gladstone, Bright and Cobden had done in England. " ; ""' ''■' : :V.w

PEOOEBSf ,'O2 MTLIMi^ The Bribery ..Bill .was. read second time. The Marton Annuity Bill was' passed. SAVINGS Billks PBOVtift'teiLi,, . A very long discustiou ensued in com* mittee on the 3rd clause of the Savings Banks Profits.Bill,.wbich is in eflPect that when a savings Bank .'has' by inVeilmeot of deposits realized a 'profit exceeding the sum ofione^thomand pounds, ;tfae trustees may declare any portion of such profits in excess.of one thousand pounds,shall be paid over to any institution rotiinstitu* tions. A number of members protested against the proposal as unfair to depositors jahd, likely to; Jfcad jtojmtttptactices. Mr Whitaker moved'that the words " ten per cent." on profits " instead of a fixed sum be inserted; f „,,.., „ „ After a long discussion 'it' waV moved that I\ sbe.inserted for, f IQ, r but'it was negatived^ and Mr Whitaker's amendment'was agreed to." ~~r ---: Objection was. taken, by Mr Swanson and -' fllr fMacfarlane l"to making the bill apply generally. If it, emanated from Otago, then'make it apply to Otagoonly/ :■"•■ '? • ■•■' ■"'■> ■>■?.■'■') . '

„ ,A. new.; clause was added, making the bill' [Ppermissive].; >r' '•' ' >";•!,'• a , The bill was reported with amendments, and the' House adjourned atf 1.35.