PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3594, 22 August 1890, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

House of Hspresoatatives-

THUBSDAY, AUGUST 21,

Tho Speaker took the chair at

• The Stafford County Bill, Gimmerburn Forest Reserve. Bill, and

Mount Edon Reserve Bill were passed through their final stages. ■_ The Sheep Bill was further considered in committee.

A lengthy discussion took place on clause"72, tatoo marks and earmarks on- sheep. As the clause provided for ..earmarking being made by a punoli, Mr. Buchanan moved to amend the clause by providing that the mark shall be mado by outtiug or punching.- This amendment was agreed, to, but subsequently the clause was struck out ou the voices. The amendments made in the Bill by the Stock Committee was agreed to.

.The Electoral Acts Amendment Bill was committed. In olauso 5,' providing that a candidate shall be nominated, by five electors,.'' two ('• was substituted for five on the motion of Mr Smith.. On the motion of Mr Cadman an amondment was made

that the nomination shall reach the Returning Officer seven-(instead of ten) days before the electiou. Clause 7, deposit (£10) by candidate. Mr Marchant moved that this olanpe be struck out, considering it a disgrace 'to a democratic country.Mr Samuel supported the chuso, as did MrMaokenzie andDr Hodgkhlson, while Mr Taylor warmly opposed it. On division tbe clause was .retained i by 58 to 20.

Clause 10, oaudidate may withdraw. Mr T, Mackenzie moved an amendment that the candidate may

withdraw not later than five (instead of three days) before the poll'—This was carried by 86 to 85. The Olauso I was passed by 83 to 10.

Clause 21. Vote may be given (to j seamen) in any part of the Colony.— Mr Fulton thought the machinery proposed was cumbrous and would

keep the election open for seven days | before the polling day. He suggested that seamen should be enabled to voto by telegraph. The clause was, passed after a short discussion, Mr Tanner moved a now clause to the effect that any person giving or telling intoxicating liquor to an elector during the election shall be

liable to a fine not exceeding £2O- - Bruce supported tho proposal, remarking that the same thing had worked very well in some of the States of. America.—Mr Fish opposed the new clause, which was lost by 35 to 24, Sir John Hall moved tho following new clause:-"For all purposes connected with and having reference j to the right of voting in tho election of members of the JHouse of

Representatives, words in the Act providing for the representation of the people importing the masculine gender shall include' women," In

moving it, Sir John Hall said he

would modify tho clause if it was the general desire. Mr Kerr opposed tho clauso, and said it was a fact that there wore plenty of men in the House who would be prepared to stonewall this proposal for ten days. -Mr Fish said Sir John Hall was deluding himself if ho thought, the

vote recently taken,on this question was an indication that it would be adopted. now. Suoh a proposal ought to be left over for the next Parliament to decide.—Dr Hodgkinsonsaid this clause "would effect acomplete revolution, He called upon Sir John Hall, as a matter of decency, not to proceed with thie "outrage" -("OhI") ,-and declared he was shocked,—Mi' Peacook roso amid a roar of" Question" to say he should oppose the clause at this stage, holding that a great question oi the kind ought not to bo dealt with in the last session of Parliament.—Mr Verrall thought this was an act oflarrikiuism on the part of Sir John Hall, Why were not the little children given a vote too ? Children and dogs were quite as well able to judge men as men were thoinselvos. (Laughter.)—Mr Ballanco moved a proviso that the clause should not come into operation till the Ist of January, 1898,—The Minister, while he supported the principle of the clause, pointed out tbat this Bill, which-was an instalment of reform, was jeopardised by it. He bad every confidence that female suffrage would be enacted at a not very dis-

taut date, but he did not think it fair to the present Bill to bring it forward now, especially in view of Mr Balance's amendment,—Sir John Hall nsked whether tho Government would put his Bill for female suffrage in a forward position if he withdrew this clause,—Mr Verrall! State Bank first. (Laughter.)—Mv T, Mackenzie taunted members who bad supported this principle with desiring 'to get excuses for voting against it now.—Mr Lance considered it unfair for suoh a question to be brought up at short notice.—Mr Sauuders ridi euled the idea that this proposal, the most important ever brought beforo the House, should be shelved .because of this" trumpery Bill." Mr Scobie Mackenzie said if the proposal was so important the country ought to express an opiuiou on it keforothe House dealt with-it.—Mr Fish twitted Sir-John Hall with bringing fownrd a proposal wbiob would upset the arrangement made between the Government and Opposition.— Mr Whyte moved to report progress, oh the ground that it was evident they ■would not get any furthor with the matter.—Mr it Thompson, who had previously supported the proposal, said he should now oppose'it, considering tho time iooppo.ttune.-Mr Whyte's motion to report progress was lost by 25 to 21.—Sir John Hall asked leave to withdraw his olause, recognising that the timo had arrived when this great measure must bepostponedon account of tho obstruction which a few members were prepared to oppose to it. Whar had happened was a clear indication of the want cf reform in the Standing orders,r-41r Ballance approved of Sir John Hall's course, and pointed out tbat no fair test vote could bo taken on the subject introduced m this way.—Mr Blake said Sir John Hall himself was obstruotiug tho business.—Mr Seddon ui"jed Sir John Hall to stick to his guns; After further disoussion the moliqn for- second reading of the olause Tvas lost by 2G to 19, and the clause was therefore thrown out, * | Mr Tanner wished to move anew clause, that pubiichouses should be olosed. during the hours of polling, Tho Chairman said tbat was too much .like the clause that the corauiittealsd.alrsafiyr'ejec'tei

. MrArthnnnovedajiewclauseto' Met that natireamid half-oaataa iL VOe } foi ', tlieirow,lß repi-esontahves nhouH not vote for Juropeau inem) m _After a short disousaion Mr Artbur witbdrew his amen mention the understanding; thattholaw officers should be consuited with reference to it. The Bilhvas then reported. The Houso rose at 2.10.