PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4227, 24 September 1892, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

Legislatiue Council. FRIDAY, WOMAN'S riUHOHISE. The Hon Mr Oliver moved the new clauses conferring electoral rights on women, the machinery clauses thus being taken first. Speaking on the woman's franchise question, tho Hon Mr Walker said be was strongly opposed to ihe extension without giving tho electors a chance to record their opinions on the subject; The best women did not wnnt tho fianchiso, and tho worst should not bo granted it.

Tho Hon Mr Stewart said that if it was not granted now, as sure as the sun rose it would bo granted within the next two Years.

Tho Hon, Sir George Wbitmoro denied that tho question had beeu a prominent one, only a fugitive person bore and there having supported it. He wont on to speak strongly against tho Bill, Tho Hon. Dr, Grace said that under the proposed machinery the principle could bo tried without miscliiovons results, Ho looked upon the woman's suffrage now as a necessity. A division was called lor by tho Hon tho Colonial Secretary, with the result that the clause was adopted by 13 to ,8. Tho Hon, the Colonial Secretary formally moved for tho re-coniraittal of the Bill, so as to allow the vote to be lakon on the principle of woman's suflVngo, and to allow the Hon. Mr Taiaroa to mo?e in regard to the inclusion of Maoii women in tho franchise extension.

The Hon, Sir George Wliitmore supported the Hon, Mr Taiaroa's motion io include the Maori women in the franchise if it were extended, and tlie motion waa carried without division,

The Hon. Sir George Wliitmore then moved the test motion that' person' should not be interpreted to include' woman,' Ayes—Bon. Walker, Wliitmore, Swanson, Morris, Pollen, and Mantell, Noes—flons, Stewart, Reynolds, Pbarazyn, Stevens, Whawalm, Taiaroa, Dignan, Wliytc, Oliver, Ormond, Joboson, Holmes and Buckley, Tho woman's franchiso was therefore adopted by 13 to 6.

LAND 1011 SETTLEMENTS BILL. The second reading of this Bill was moved by the Hon the Colonial Secretary, The Hon Mr Stevens com" plimented the Government on discarding compulsion in the measure in favour of voluntary oiler. lie was not prepared to say that the principlo of the Crown buying land for settlement was good, but the prevailing idea favoured it, The Hon Mr Pbarazyn said the Bill of tho previous year was open to the imputation of robbery, and this year it went in tho direction of jobbery; but as there was a strong popular feeling in favour of the Bill it might be better to pass it,—The Hon, Mr Ormond thought the Bill would be an excellent one if wisely given effect to, but he thought tho appropriation should be made annual instead of perpetual,—The Bill was read a Becond time, and tho committal fixed for Tuesday,