PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 70, 17 July 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

IN HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [By Telegraph.] r Fnmi our Sjuriiil ('itrrrxptintlrnt. / Wellington, this day. The outcome of the Banking Committee's deliberation in camera yesterday morning was a determination to search for precedents to meet the case. It was expected that some of the witnesses would refuse to divulge the position of accounts of clients of the bank. But it was not anticipated that a deadlock would arise at the inception of the proceedings. The probabilities are that President Watson and a host of others will find themselves summoned to the bar of the House for contempt; and possibly they may be handed over to the care of the Sergeant at Arms. In view of the fact that the Financial debate is taking place next week and there will be no work for the Legislative Council that branch of the Legislature will, on its rising to-day, adjourn till Wednesday week. In the meantime the Council Committee on the banking question will meet and take evidence, and as it is not intended on their part to go into individual instances of writing off or to anything beyond the pale of the present banking legislation, no difficulty is anticipated so far as their Committee is concerned. In the Council yesterday afternoon the Gold Duties Amendment Bill passed its second reading, and the second reading of the Rating on Inimproved Values Bill was agreed to after a short discussion by 20 to 11. This measure has thrice previously failed to run the gauntlet in the Upper House, which has now fallen in with the mandates of the people's representatives. The Wesleyan Methodist Church Property Trust Act (1887) Amendment Bill passed its first stages in the House yesterday afternoon. The Reporting Debates and Printing Committee reported to-day, cautioning the officers of the House against permitting alterations in papers laid upon the table of the House, but added that so far as the complaint concerning the Horowhenua Commission was concerned no alteration had been made in the evidence. The Hon Mr Hall-Jones, who is Minister in charge of the Government Printing Office,"said the matter was one of great importance, and he moved that the report be referred back to the Committee in order that further evidence should be taken as to how the interpolations came to be made. These- interpolations, according to Mr Pi rani, -another member of- the Reporting and Debates Committee, were occasioned by blanks in the shorthand-writer's copy, owing to his being unable to understand Maori names mentioned in the course of the enquiry. After considerable debate the Minister's amendment was carried by 85 to 80, and the report referred back to the Committee. A motion by the Premier to oust from reference to the Banking Committee the words " and to confer with any similar Committee appointed by the Legislative Council" was carried oil the voices without discussion. The balance of the sitting up to the

d 'liner adjournment was taken rr with the consideration of loqU rills. ()a resuming !ii 7.30 U ;i Bi;h were in !■ i 1 ico. Tiu- Tenia!.' Law Prici'tioners Bi:i pad«'.-(i its it mil stage* wii-honf. vision. Tlii' Deew. -cd Husband's Brother Marring' Dili was read a third time by 27 to i± The second ixr, ling of the Sic;:';-; Act 1595 Amendment Bill, to allow stock to be driven at night (Mr G. Hutchison), was refused by 85 to 15. The second raiding of the Abolition of Capital Punishment Dill (Mr W. W. Collins) was also negatived. Progress was reported on the Limitation of Power of Disposition by Will Dill (Sir Robert Stout). The Criminal Code Act Amendment Dill passed through Committee with slight amendments. The Reporting Debates Committee again to-day considered the matter of interpolations in the Horowlienua Commission evidence. It was decided to report that the Committee had no further recommendation to make. The Minister of Works alone voted with the Ministry.