IN THE LOBBY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1034, 29 August 1883, Page 2

IN THE LOBBY.

[from our par til am bn r ary correspondent.] Wellington, To-day. The case of the prisoner Longhurst is now before the Public Petitions Committee. It is said that the majority of the Ministers are in favor of Longhurst’s immediate release, but the Governor, acdng on the memoranda received from the Judge who tried the case, is not satisfied of the convict’s innocence, and declines to grant a free pardon. The friends of the prisoner are therefore moving Parliament in the matter, with the view of having the whole of the circumstances thoroughly investigated. ' The Dargaville Committee held another meeting yesterday, and will, I understand, sit every day this weak. Mr Foster Goring, I understand, gave evidence yesterday in support of Mr Dargavillo’s first specific charge of alleged political corruption, and the whole of his charges have to be put in writing before the Committee not later than to-day. It is not expected the Committee can report earlier than Monday. From the discussion in the House yesterday it appears that the education question will be made one of the principal cries at the next general election. Bills relating to reform of the Legislative Council and the National Insurance scheme are expected to be submitted to the House either to-day or to-morrow, with the view of their being considered during the recess, preparatory to the next session of Parliament.

Mr A. Macdonald is to ask the Government if they will agree to reinstate the bonus once offered, viz., 6d per gallon for the first 50,000 gallons of kerosene oil procured and refined in the colony. Mr Wright is to ask the Government whether they will renew the offer of the bonus of LSOO for the first 50 tons of cheese produced in the colony under the factory system and sold in a foreign market, at such a price as shall show the cheese to be of good quality. Mr White is to ask the Government if they do not think it is inexpedient to spend any money in introducing immigrants, seeing that meetings of unemployed mechanics, laborers and others have been lately held at Christchurch and Dunedin, at which it was stated that a large number of mechanics, laborers, and others are unable to find such employment as will enable them to provide for themselves and families.

Mr Petrie ia to aak if they are aware that several County Councils in the colony have obtained an opinion from a Wellington barrister to the effect that under the provisions of the Licensing Act the Government is responsible for the payment of clerks to Licensing Benches ; (2) if in the event of the foregoing legal opinion being held good the Government are prepared to make some provision for such payment. Mr Petrie is to move that in the opinion of this House punishment of crime by death is not in unison with the spirit of our laws nor in keeping with moral precept. That capital punishment has altogether failed to act as any deterrent from crime, and that it is beyond the prerogative and contrary to the dignity of the State to resort to such punishment from feelings of retribution or revenge, and that the Government be requested to prepare during the recess a Bill embodying the above opinions and providing for the abolition of the death penalty.