THE PARNELL COMMISSION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1923, 20 August 1888, Page 2

THE PARNELL COMMISSION.

Puller particulars of the Parnell enquiry commission are now to hand and these will be read with interest by all m the community. The Bill is m five sections and the Commission is given the same powers for the purposes of inquiry as belong to Her Majepty'g High

Court of Justice, including the issuance of writs of committal m cases of refractory witnesses. Persons implicated m the said charges on the allegation of parties to the said action, and any person authorised by the Commissioners may appear at the inquiry, and any person so appearing may be represented by counsel or solicitors. Any witness may be cross-examined on behalf of any other person appearing before the Commissioners. A witness ahull not be excused from answering any question on the ground of any privilege or the ground that the answer may criminate or tend to criminate himself. No evidence taken shall be admissible agnnst any person m any civil- or criminal pro , ceedings except m case witnesses shall be accused of having given false evidenco m the enquiry. It is also provided that a certificate shall be given each witness j who shall make a full and true disclosure concerning all matters on which he is examined, and if civil or criminal proceeding shall be instituted against any such witnesses m respect of any matter whereof he shall be examined, the Court having cognizance of the case shall on presentation of the certificate stay the proceedings, and may award witnesses such costs as result by the reason of the proceedings. Much difficulty was experienced by Government m securing a Commission for the investigation. As per usual a woman is alleged to be at the bottom of the matter which has brought on the enquiry. It is alleged that « The Times " obtained all information on which it based its charges from this woman, who, it is said, is known only to a few, and it is said that the proviso m the Bill, making witnesses who testify free from enquiry, wan placed there on her account, as there is a suspicion that she forged the now. celebrated letter which "The Times" published the^ac simile of. Sir James Hannen will be President of the Commission and with him are associated Sir John Charles Day and Sir A. L. Smith. The sittings will commence on October 16th.