New Zealand Parliament.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 64, 12 September 1896, Page 2

New Zealand Parliament.

o LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, Sept. 11. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. j The Public Petitions Committee re j ported on the petition of Sir Walter j Buller in reference to the Horowhenua Commission. The Committee was of j opinion that the petitioner was, not . justified in relying on or availing him- j self of extra judicial statements made, or stated to have been made by any member of the Commission, and the evidence petitioner stated he would have brought forward would not have materially effected the terms of the report. It was too late to re-investi-gate the whole matter of the Horowhenua Commission, though if thought nocessary, a joint committee of both Honses should be appointed for the purpose. The petitioner expressed a desire to appear at the bar of the Council. The Defamation Bill was read a third time and passed. After further debate tlie Private Benefit Societies Bill was rejected on its second reading by 18 to 11. The division list was as follows : — Ayes, 11 — Feldwick, Jenkinson, Jennings, Jones, Kelly, Montgomery, Reeves, R-igg. Taiaroa, W. C. Walker. IS'oes, 18 — Acland, Baillie, Barni coat, Bowen, Grace, Holmes, Macgregor, McLean, Morris, Ormond, Peacock, Reynolds, Richardson, Scotland, Stevens, Swanson, L. Walker, and Williams. The Council rose at 4.25 p.m.