HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3401, 15 November 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Last uight The House met at 2.30. ATJCXLAKD EAILWAY TTOBKSHOPS.

Mr Hamlin gave notice that he would move tho appointment of a Committee to enquire into the most suitable placo for the erection of Eailway Workshops in Auckland district.

PBISON LABOB

Mr Shrimski asked whether the Borough Councils of Timaru, Lyttelton, Lawrence, and Wellington obtain the benefit of prison labor, and if so, whether the various corporations above mentioned' are charged with the cost of the same, or any part thereof? If not, why it is made a' condition to the Timaru Corporation obtaining the benefit of prison labor that they should pay the cost of a warder ? Mr XJolleston replied that whereevei 1 extra cost was involved it was charged against the local bodies.

BEGISTBATION OF MINING COMPANIES. Replying to Mr Ban, Mr Hall said the registrauon of mining companies in luvercargill could be effected at the Supreme Court there. . '

lineman's station.

Replying to Mr Sutton, Mr Hall said further inquiries would be made regarding the necessity for a lineman's station to be erected at Mahia, Hawke's Bay.

BIE JOHN COODE'S BEPOU.TB.

Replying to Mr Sutton, Mr Oliver said no reports had\ been obtained from Sir John Coode on the Harbors at Napier and Wairoa, Hawke's Bay. Replying to Mr Reid, Mr Oliver said tho Government would lay before this Houso a copy of Sir John Ooode's report on the Hokitika Harbor.

UEWMABKKT WOBKSHOPS.

Replying to Mr Tole, Mr Oliver said the Government had not yet decided on the site of the Newmarket Workshops,

DESPATCH OF BUSINESS.

On tbe motion of Mr Hall, it was agreed that the House meet for the despatch of business on Monday at 7.30. -

NEW BILLS

The following bills were produced and read a first time :—Christchurch Drainage Act 1575 Amendment (Itichnrdson); To regulate tho width of streets and roads (Thompson) ; Public Reserves Sale—the Special Powers and Contracts (Holies-, ton).

QUALIFICATION OF ELECTOHS BILL. The report on the qualification of Electors bill was brought up. Mr Hall moved that it be adopted, and that as a good deal of time had been spent in amending the measure, it be read a third time without further delay. Mr Pyke moved tho recommittal of the Bill. Mr Thompson supported the proposal on the ground that the word "man " be resubstituted in subsection 1 of clauso 2, so as to do away with the proposed female franchise. He urged that the fcraalo frnnchiso proposal was oiio of sufficient importance to.warrant.a separate uioasuro b^ing prepared. As things stood, it was only women who were possessed of property to the value of £25 upon whom this franchise was conferred. If women were worthy of having a vote, they should get it iv virtue of their womauhooJ, and not in virtue of their properly. Mr Lundon made a similar objection to tho provision proposed to be made for the Maori franchise.

Mr Macandrew understood that it was an understanding with the Government that it should be recommitted. ~ Mr Dick agreed to a committee for the purpose of reconsidering the proposed female franchise, he would rather allow it to gowith that provision, however, than see it recommitted as a whole,

Sir G. Groy hoped they would agree to the recommittal. He denied it was a good Bill. It would be to discourage the accumulation of property. The true principle on which the representation should proceed was to let each man hare one rote —not more. It was only females who had property to a certain amount who were to bo provided with a rote. They ought to make a complete Bill before sondißg it up to the Legislative Council, and then insist that it be passed by that chamber. A division was taken in the adoption of report with the following result—Ayes 30, Noes 34. Division list.—Ayes : Bain, Beetham, Bowen, Brandon, Bryce, Colbeck, Gibbs, Hall, Hursthouse, Johnston, Levin, Mason, Masters, McLean, Muri-ay (teller), Oliver, Pitt, Rolleston, Saundcrs, Seymour, Stevens, Sutton, Tomoana, Trimble, Wakefieluy Wailii, Willis,

Wood, Wright, and Richardson.*—Noes: AHwright, Andrews, Balhnco, Barron, DoLautour, Dick, Fisher J. B. (Buller), Fuller J. T. (Heathuote), George, Gisborho, Grey, Hamlia, Ifislop, Hutchison, Ireland, Kelly, London, Macandrew, Montgomery, Moss, Pyke (teller), lieeves, Uriel, hJetidon, Shephard, Shrimski (teller), Speight, Stewart, Fwanson, Tainui, Tiiwliia, To Wheoro, Thomson, and Tjolc. On iho question for recommittal being put .\Jr Jjowen moved as a further amendment that it be recommitted for tho" puvposes of reconsidering sub-section 1 of section 2.

On a division the amendment was curried- Ajes 37, noes? 22.

Mr Hi si op moved a further amendment that the bill be recommitted t'nr the reconstruction of sub-section 4 of clause 2. The division resulted as follows : Ayes 2-i, noes 37.

Dr Wallis movpfl tho reconsideration of sub-sec! ion 2 of elauss 2.

The motion was lost on the voices. The bill was comitiitted for the reconsideration of sub-section 1 of clause 2.

In Commutes, Mr Montgomery mo red the following addition so as to make subsection 2 read as follows :—" Every person subject to the provision that he shall not liavc more than one Tote shail be en". titled to have his name on the electoral roll." - % r The debate was interrupted by tb05,30 adjournment. ILLEGAL TTSU OF TELEGRAM. ' On the motion of Mr Shcehan progress was reported. Mr Sheehan made a statement to the effect that one of the telegrams produced on tho previous night had been paid for by himself, and that he had instructed a solicitor in Wellington to take proceedings against the parties concerned for illegally producing copies of these telegrams. ;

Mr Hal! said he had gir«a an order for the production of the telegrams in accordance with an order of .the House, and had only held himself responsible for tho production of telegrani3 re/erred to in that order. -

Mr Shechan said he would nevertheless tako legal pioceediuqs.Vii the matter. He was afraid ho rrould have to proceed again the officer in chnrgeof the department.

Mr Wakefield deprecated bht course pursued by Mr Shechaa and expressed regret that the whole matter had not been left to be dealt with as proposed by the Committee.

Sir George Grey, contended that Mr Sheehan had been injured in hi: private capacity by the leaders of the Hcnse, and as such the House was bound tcsee him righted. He could conceive of nothing more heinous than the conduct of the Government in this matter, He did not think the' Committee was a iir one. Messrs Wakeficld and Saundes ought not to have been on the Coramitte at all.. Mr Sheehan's character absolce-ly depended on his ability to clear huself of the imputation cast ou him. H< asked. the House to pass some censure tpon the. Government for its conduct in theaffair.

Mr Wakefield said that \3 the appointment of the Committee hid been done entirely without his knowledge, and without any previous concurrence iotweeu the Government and himself.

Mr Speight said that he haidocumentary evidence in his possession that the whole of these telegrams had been paid for by the senders.. In that case he suggested that the whble"matter should be inquired into, and if it was found ttat what Jio stated was correct, then they should be withheld, and not sent before the Committee at all. QUALIFICATION OF ELECTOEB HIM. . Tho House then went into Committee and the Qualification of Electors Bill was proceeded with. The amendment moved by Mr Montgomery was then put and lost. The division was: Ayes 22, Noes 29. -•:■■'■ '■ ■■ ■■ .::■;■ ■ . -^ „:

Mr Pyke moved that the word "per* son" in sub-section L 2," be struck out, and the word *'mau" be substituted. The House divided on question that the'word "person" as printed stand part of the motion. Ayes 21 ; Noes 31* Ayes s Bain, Bnllanco, Beetham, DeLautour, Hall, Hursthouse, Johnston, Lundon, Macandrew, Murray, Oliver, Pitt, Saanders, Shriraski, Speight, (Teller), Trimble, Wakefield, Wallis, (Teller), Willis, Wright. Noes 31:, Allwright, Andrews, Barron. Bowen, Brandon, Bryce, Colbeck, Dick, Fisher, (Heathcole), George, Gibbs, Gisborne, Grey, Hamlin, Kelly, Kentiy, Levin. Mason, Masters, McLean, Eeid, Richardson! Rolleston^ Seddon, Shephard; Stevens, Stewart, Swanson, Thomson. The word " person" was then struck out and tho word "man*' substituted.

Mr Seddon moved that the property qualification bo reduced from £25 to £10. The motion was lost on the vioces. On the sub-section as amended being put, a division took pl;ice—Ayes. 32, Noes 29. The sub-section as amended was then put and carried.

On the House resuming, the Bill was reported with amendments, and read a third (imti and. passed.

KEOXBTBATION OP ELECTOB3.

In Committee the Registration of Electors Bill was considered. J. T. Fisher moved that progress bo reported with a view of enabling Government to bring dovrn the liedislribution of Seats Bill, so that they might consider it in connection with this Bill.

Mr Hall defended the Bill Bgainst the charge made by Mr Macandrew, that tho Bill was not a Liberal measure. He contended that ifc not only provided tfrtt-eVcry man 6hall be allowed to ha7e his name registered, but that his name will actuallj be put on the rll. He could conceive nothing more Liberal, and hoped no unnecessary delay would be thrown in the way. Mr Stewart called upon the Government to state distinctly (yes or no) whether they intended to bring in the Eedislribution of Seats Bill this seßsion. They took office on the distinct under* standing that this would be dona. Mr Turnbull thought the Bill Should be allowed Jo proceed, and that the Opposition should exercise its power of compelling the Government to bring down the Redistribution Bill. ; .; Mr Gisborne spoke of the importance of some assurance being given as to the Redistribution of Seats Bill.

Mr Seddon characterised the couduct of the Opposition, to whom ho belonged, its being pure obstruction, and hoped the bill would be gone on with. He reminded them that if the Redistribution of Seats wa3 passed a dissolution must of necessity eusue. This was a most inopportune moment for a dissolution. They had to .face the. present unsatisfactory, state of Colonial linance, and that was not moment for them to face the responsibilities of A dissolution.

Mr Hall laid tbat the question of Be*

distribution of Seats was purely a question of time. Whether or not it would bo taken this session depiHuU'd entirely on the progress made with tho .Legislation now. betbro the House. So soon as tho Government saw it 3 »vny in that respect it would give the House information as to whether or not tho redistribution would be attempted this session. A measure of that kind would take one ov perhaps two weeks to pass, and it was not by any means clear whether that tiuio could hi; snared tiiis session. Ho concluded hy saying that ho very much doubted whether members irorc ns sincere as the}' professed to be in regard to this question. However he would give information as to what the Government proposed doing at the earliest moment. Mr J. T. Fishf-r said tho Redistribution of Seats 13ill was one of tho measures promised, and it allowed very bad taste on the part of the Government to take up the position they had done in connection therewith. If they passed the measures before the House, he felt quite convinced that uo He-distribution Bill would be brought down. The mott.n for reporting progress was then put and negatived on the voices. Rustic Logic—Scotch farmer (to farrnservant who has been unwell for some time): "Man Matthew, is that yon? I heard ye was deed." Matthew : " Lord, I heard that tae, but Ikent fine it was a lee."

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