HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 991, 29 October 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON, last night. The conference on the Electoral Bill re-assembled to-day. After some discussion, tho man* agers for the Council intimate j their willingness to abandon three out of the four amendments m dispute. These three are the Miners Rights Qualification, Leasehold Qualification, and single rotes at all elections, Ou'

the question of the Maori franchise, however, they were firm. Mr Stout asked themif they would accept any of the following alternative proposals, m lieu of clause 17 — "Every male Maori of twentyone years of age and over shall have the same rights and privileges, and be entitled to be registered for the same qualifications as he had before the passing of this Act" or the following new clause, " m addition to the franchise granted to Maoris under section 1 7, every male adult Maori who wnether solely or jointly is aeized or entitled to any land of the value of -£25, under a grant from the Crown shall be entitled to be registered under this Act and to claim t» be registered m the form m the schedule or the second now clause with this provision — provided always that no claim under this section shall be made after the next two years." Tbe managers for the Council refused to accept any suggestion and when asked what reasons they had for* wishing to deprive the Maoris of the rights they already possessed, replied that, m the past, the rights had not done much harm, as the natives had not known their own power, but, that now they were becoming aware of it. The conference broke op withont any agreement m the Council, to-day. I Colonel Whitmore hinted very plainly at a dissolution. As a conse. quence of the action taken, it is possible they may make an effort to get fresh managers appointed for another conference, but there is evidently a determined maiority of the council on this Maori franchise question, and the Bill will certainly be abandoned. On the Disqualification Bill, concessions have been made on each side, which will lead to the Bill passing. The Native Law Suit Bill will be withdrawn. Native Land Bill is passed practically unopposed.