PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 58, 3 July 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

IN HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [By Telegraph.] / From' our Spcrial < 'orrexpontlcnt. t Wellington, this day. In the Council the Pharmacy Act was given notice of. The Adulteration Prevention Acts Amendment Bill was road a third time and passed. The Hon. Mr Walker moved the second reading of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors Bill, stating it was the same Bill as the Council passed last year and which the Government had taken up, believing that for many reasons it should become law. The measure provided for examinations, which would place the profession on a sure foundation and enable those who followed it here to practise in the other colonies without' having to undergo another examination so long as they hold a certificate from the New Zealand Institute. After a short debate in which the Hon. Messrs Kelly, -Tones, and Shrimski took part, the second reading was agreed to. The Sea Fisheries Act Amendment Bill was read a second time on the motion of the Hon. Mr "\\ alker, who explained that some of the mussel beds are getting exhausted, and with a view of giving them periodical rests for recovery as well as to protect sponge beds round the coast the Bill was introduced. In 1898 an Act was passed enabling Registrars of the Supreme Court to act in the absence of Judges, but certain words inserted in it having rendered it nugatory, the Supreme Court Act Amendment Bill has been introduced m? 1 -' >he Council and yesterday was u second time without debate. I> -'riet Judge Kettle is again petite" i; ..? Parliament with reference to ti.i Heed for greater security of tenure oi o-fnee for district judges. Mi Lewis, the new member for ChrLstehuryh, made Ms maiden speech yestecday afternoon on the Canterbury

College Bill, and created a favorable impression by bis fluency. According to Mr Pi rani the Minister for Public "Works in a " modified edition of the Premier." To give some idea of how the Government burked private members motions, Sir Eobert Stout said last night that though Parliament met on the 11th June and tlu-fc it was now ■July Ist not a single private member's motion had been discussed in the House, and it did not look as though there would be one this session. Sir Scddon yesterday introduced the following Bills :—Legislative Council Act Amendment, Local Government, and Public Revenues Act Amendment. The Premier is determined to proceed with the banking enquiry and there is a rumour that though the Minister of Lands promised its proceedings would be open to the press, as asked by Mr Hutchison, the Ministery are now inclined to back out of this, which, it is contended, will render the Committee of even less value than it now is. It is understood that the Hon Mr Bowen, M.L.C., has intimated that he will not act on the Committee if one is set up by the Council, which is significant, as last year it was recognised on all sides that he did excellent work that few could have bettered on the jiank of Mew Zealand Committee. On dividing 011 the second reading of Major Steward's Mortgaged Bill, which is to reduce the cost of deeds of mortgage, the lawyers were divided, Messrs.McNab and Montgomery voting with the ayes, and Messrs Bell, Guinness, and Sir Robert Stout with the noes. The second reading was carried by four votes. Kiccarton Russell scored twice yesterday, his Female Practitioners Bill going through without debate, and the Canterbury College Bill without a division, though in respect to the latter several speakers indicated they preferred the Hon Mr Hall-Jones' measure dealing with the same matter, and would support it. Sir Robert Stout pointed out that Mr Russell's bill gave far too much power to school committees. Major Steward has received a large number of congratulatory telegrams from various parts of the colony on his success with the Elective Executive Bill. A peculiarity in connection with tho division on it was that several members on both sides of the House paired with members of their own party, but tho most notable instances were those of the Hon Mr Hall-Jones (for) iiairing with Mr J. G. Ward (against); and the Hon T. Thompson with Mr Meredith. Three members known to be favorable to the bill abstained from voting, viz : Messrs Maslin, G. Hutchison, and Collins; and Mr Montgomery only voted against it because he had pledged himself to do so when elected. The Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill was amended so as to apply only to a new trial for Cheinis, the alleged Iviawara murderer, and • the second reading was carried by 37 to 15. Sir Robert Stout's Bill, dealing with the limitation of power of disposition by will, was read a second time without division. The Criminal Code Act, 1893 Amendment Bill, introduced by the senior member for Wellington City, making incest a penal offence, was also read a second time without division. Riccartion Russell's Removal of Women's Disabilities Bill was slaughtered on the motion of Mr Clutlie Mackenzie. As illustrating the disregard the Premier has for small things, the following incident, which occurred as the House was rising yesterday afternoon, is worth mentioning. He explained that by an oversight only ten in place of eleven members had been put on the Labor Bills Committee, and moved that his own name as Minister of Labor be added to it. Mr Piraui pointed out that his Truck Bill had been thrown out in this Committee by the Premier's vote. This staggered the House, and the Premier's formal motion had to be adjourned to give time for consideration. Two members in earnest, Captain Russell and Mr Meredith, were tellers against Mr Lawry's Deceased Husband's Brother's Marriage Bill, which, however, was again read a second time. Clutha Mackenzie told the House that though going Home he did not intend to abandon politics. On his return to the colony again he would stand for Parliament. » ilr George Jones is introducing a new Bill to the Council, dealing with the Chinese alone, and fixing the polltax at £IOO, to be called the Chinese Immigration Bill.