HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 19 September 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

■WEILIXGTOy, 16. In the House yesterday tbe Premier moved for the re committal of the Leaseholders Qualification Bill for the purpofo of striking out the proviso added on the motion of Grey that no person should vote in more than two electorates. The Premier said that the division wits merely a catch one. and did not represent the feeling of the House, as many members were absent at the time tbe vote waa taken. Grey retorted that the same rule applied to tbembers on his side of the House, and b. 3 opposed the re-committal. The motion for the re«coramittal wa» ultimately carried by 25 to 15. In committee tbe Premier moved to erase the proviso and Seddon moved as an ams endment that the works ' two ' only be struck ou,t. Saunders hoped tho Government would accept the amendment with a view of inserting the word three. If they consented to this comprise, lie had little doubt the matter might be easily settled. The best plan, however, would be to bring down a new Bill fixing (he number of TQtes excrcfrable by auy

elector. Ho urged that notwitV standing the late period of the session the question was soveiy important that it was their duty tr> st«ty as long a? necessary to deal with it. These remarks were londly cheered on bot.i sides of the House. Progress was eventually reported. At to chys sitting the Counties Suspension Bill was committed, end Bnlano" moved that; prO-jro^s be reported, remarking that it was not. advisable to rush such an important Bill through the Souse in its expiring hours. Some discussion on the question of report* ing progress took place, when the motion was lost by 36 to 15. Bryce, who also opposed the Bill, mover? that the Chairman leare the chair, and then a wild system of stonewalling took place. Andrews soid he b.nd agreid to support Ballance in stonewalling the Bill. The motion that the Chairman leave the chair was put and lost Bryce ng>iin objected and tha Premier agreed to report progress, and s.iid he wo jH state in the afternoon what course he would take. Oliver arid Bowen urged the Premier to persist in going on with the Bill. The lloase by this time reached the 'l»rking' stags, and every speaker was laujheJ at and what with coughs and interruptions of various kinds tho House became a sort of bedlam, nnd no coherent sentence could be lieuad. Eventually progress was reported.