Evening Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3389, 1 November 1879, Page 2

Evening Sitting.

The House resumed at 7.30

Mr Saunders in speaking to the motion for the second reading of the Electoral Bill, said it was to be regretted that the whole of the measures on this point were not before them. He agreed with a good deal that had been said by the Hon memder for the Thames. Tho bill might have been expressed in more simple language. So far as he understood the bill, it gave the right for properly to exercise any number of votes, provided the vote was not recorded at the general elections. The bill provided that no alien nor person attained or convicted of treason or felony or infamous crime should ba registered.. Such objection should, he thought, be strictly enforced as against persons sitting as members in that house. He would not however be disposed to go the same length as regards electors exercising the franchise. He would rote for the bill, but in committee be would reserve his power to suggest amendments. Mr Andrews blamed the Government for not having brought down ill the series of Bills at the one time. If the Bill before the House passed, and some of the others did not, the situation could bo rendered most embarassing. He would support the second reading, reserving the right to make alterations in Committee.

Mr Dick objected to the £25 property qualification. There should be but one vote in elections to this House. They should have only one qualification-— manhood 'suffrage. With such a law, property qualification, non residents would be able to qualify themselves in a .number of adjoining districts. He objected to the exemption made against the natives. They should be encouraged to qualify themselves so as to be placed on the same footing as Europeans. Education should also be encouraged amongst the natives, so that native members in the Hou.se might be able to understand the debates instead of trusting to the distorted versions given them by interpreters and others with political bias. In committee however, he thought the Bill was quite capable of being remodelled, and made a good useful measure.

Mr Pitt said that in a House so strongly imbued with liberalism he was astonished that nothing had beeu said about extending the franchise to women. They had been told that they repre« sented the people. He denied that such was or could be the case. So long as they excluded the female franchise they were amenable to all the political obligations, and he could see no reason why they should not be allowed to participate in the political privileges. He was not prepared to go'the length of say-> ing that they should have a seat in the House. He believed a reform of that kind will come sooner or later, and he saw no reason why they should not face the responsibility at once.

Mr Hutchison said tbe bill aimed at giving a plurality of votes to property. That was an injustice to property. Men with small scraps of property here and there got the plurality, and the man with all his property in one block, no matter how large, had only one. They stood the»*e to represent men.- He thought after all that had been said tbe Government would be prepared to abandon this qualification. He thought they should give the Maori the right of voting along with themselves. He contended that the exemption made in the caie of persons convicted of crime was injudicious. Mr Hall in replying said the records showed the late Government intended in this Electoral Bill to provide for the representation of property as well as residential qualification. The question of native representation could, he thought, be better discussed on a special bill dealing with the subject, and proposing to give ample compensation in another way to natives for any rights of which the present bill deprived them. The Government would give the natives equal rights with Europeans, but would strenuously resist giving them greater privileges. It was stated that men would go here and there under property qualification lor the purpose of making for themselves votes. Well, he had never heard of such a thing being done. He was glad the matter had been dealt with apart altogether from party spirit. Government was not going to yield what it thought was right; still he imagined thai in committee 'arrangements would be made that would meet the views of all parties.

The motion was put and carried, its committal being made the order of the day for Tuesday.

Mr Hall then moved the second reading of .Registration of Electors Bill. He said that was a measure of even more importance than the other. The numbers on the roll to a very great extent depended upon the facilities Riven for registration. They proposed to alter altogether the mode of making up rolls. They would not require to be made up at any particular period of the year as at present. An officer would be appointed to see that all qualified persons had their names put thereon. Instead of advertising rolls, they would be open for inspection all the year round. All objections to the action of officers in the matter are to be heard by a Resident Magistrate. Whenever 100 names were added to the rolls then the same are to be printed. He believed that the system proposed would not! only be more efficient but likewise very considerable more economical. Mr Seddon suggested that instead of one Registration Office in.each electoral district the Resident Magistrate's Court should be made the office.

The motion was put aad carried without dissent, and ordered to be committed next week. MAOBI BEPBESEKTATION BILL. Maori Representation Bill was postponed till Tuesday. REGULATIONS OF KLECTIOKS BIIL. Mr Hall moved the second reading of the Regulation of Elections Bill. Amongst other provisions it changed the hours for polling from 9 to 6 o'clock. • As a guarantee of good faith £10 bad to be deposited whicli, in event of the candidate polling 50 rotes, would be returned; if not the money would be forfeited. Mr Saanders protested against the provision made for private nomination. Mr Speight also concurred with the previous speaker. I The motion was then put and carried. COBBtJPT FBACTICEB MEVENTIOJf BILL. J

Mr Hall moved the second reading of Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill. The motion was put and carried without comment.

ELECTION PETITIONS. Mr Hall moved the second reading of the Petitions Bill. The alteration proposed was that election petitions should be dealt with by the Supremo Courl Judges. The motion was carried. On the motion of Mr Hall the Electoral Acts Eepeal fill was read a second time. . Mr Hall moved the second reading of the Triennial Parliaments Bill. The motion was put and carried. At 12.30 a.m. the House adjourned. •

A kbtubn of timber imported into the colony for the years ending Juno, 1878, and 1879, has been laid on the table. The Value of the timber imported into the colony by the Public Works Department during the 3'ear 1878-79 was £6863 18s. No timber wag imported during 1878 79. During the year ending June 30, 1878, timber, shingles, etc., were imported to New Zealand to the value of £36,280, chiefly from New South Wales and Tasmania. During the year ended the 30th of June, 1879, timber of all descriptions was imported to the value of £132,383, chiefly from New South Wales and Tasmania. For tho quarter ended the 30th September, 1877, ti-nber was imported to the half of £15,802; the quarter ended the 30th September IS7B, £26,878; the quarter ended 31st December, 1877, £23,949 ; the quarter ended 31stDecembrr, 1878 £18,847 ; the quarter ended 31st March. 1978, £25,473; the quarter ended 31st of March, 1879, £50,740; the quarter ended 30th 1878, £21054; the quarter ended 30th June, 1879, £34,918.—Herald, '