PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3903, 2 July 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Pee Pkess Association.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Sitting*, EEGULATION OF ELECTIONS.

The House went into committee on the Regulation of Elections Bill. Clause 6 was amended so as to read " provided such change be notified in one or more newspapers circulating in the district, at leas!; seven clear days before the. day of polling." On'clause 9, Dr Wallis moved that the provision for taking all polls in the one day be struck out.

The House divided on the question that, the clause remain as printed. Ayes, 28 ; noes, 22.

On clause 10. Mr Wood moved that, iutsead of ten days being allowed between the date of nomination and the poll, the number of days be not more than five and not less than three.

The amendment was negatived. On clause 11, written nominations, Mr Saunders moved that it be struck out.

The House divided on the question that it stands as printed. Ayes, 23; noes, 24. The amendment was carried. The following is the division list:— Ayes : Allwright, Bain, Beetham, Fisher, J. B. (Buller) ; Fisher, J. T. (Heathcote); George, Grey, Hirst, H. (Wallace(; Hutchinson, Johnston, Levin, Macandrnw, McDonald, Montgomery, Murray, Pitt, Reeves Reid, Richardson, Shephard, Shrimski, Stevens, and We.-iton. Noes : .Bastings, Bowen, Bryce, Colbeck, Collins, Gibbs, Hamlin, Hursthouse, Kelly, Levestam, Moss, Russell, Saunders, Seddon, Speight, Studholrne, Sutton, Swanson, Thomson, Trimble, Turnbull, Wallace, Wood, and Wright. Clauses 12, 13, 14, and 15, were struckout on the understanding that they would be remodelled in conformity with the alterations made in the context.

On clause 16, an amendment was made by Mr Bastings, " That the poll open at 6 a.m., instead of 9." It was lost on the voices. On behalf of Mr Barron, who was absent a further amendment was moved, " That the poll close at eight instead of six." The House divided, and the clause as printed was passed. Ayes, 33 ; noes, 18. On clause 28, Mr Montgomery moved as an amendment affirming the principle of allowing no person to exercise more than one vote. Latee. Wellington, This day. Mr Montgomery's amendment on clause 28 to abolish plural voting was warmly supported by hir George Grey and others, and opposed" by Mr Hall, Mr Swanson, and others, but' after considerable discussion Mr Montgomery's amendment was negatived by 28 to 23, and the clause passed as printed. Ayes, 23—Allwright, Bain, Beetham, Bowen, Bryce, Colbeck, Collins, Fox, Gibbs, Hall, Hirst H. (Wallace), Hursthouse, Johnston, Kelly, Levestam, McCaughan, Pitt, Richardson, Russell, Stevens, Studholme, Sutton, Swanson, Wakefield, Wallis Whitaker, Woodwright. Noes, 28— Bastings. DeLautour, J. B. Fisher (Bailer), J. T. Fisher (Heathcote), George, Grey, Hutchinson, Macandrew, McDonald, Montgomery, Moss, Pyke, Reeves, Reid.Siddon, Shephardj; Shrimski, Speight, Thomson, Tole, Trimble, Turnbull, Weston. Pairs—Ayes: Dick, Mason, McLean, Brandon, Levin, Atkin-on, Rollesto.n, Stokes, Wbyte, and Bunny. Noes : Andrews, Jones, Stewart, Brown, Finn, Ballance, Gisborne, Murray, Tawhia, and Tuiaroa.

Mr Hutchinson moved to strike out clause 29, requiring the voting papers to be numbered. —Mr Johnston opposed, as the clause contained an improvement on the present" system sufficient to insure absolute secrecy. The clause was passed ; clauses 30 to 38 also passed.

On clause 34, providing that when a constituency returned three members, no elector should vote for more than two. Mr Montgomery moved this proviso be struck out, after some discussion the amendment was negatived on the voices, and the clause passed as printed without substantial alteration. Progress was reported and the House rose at 12.15.