Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 143, 12 October 1896, Page 2

Parliamentary Notes.

IN HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [By Telegraph.] {From our Spn ial <.'orri-npnnde-nt.) Wellington, This Day. The House sat from half-past two on Saturday till 6 p.m. The Land and Income-tax Bill and the Public Revenues Bill passed their remaining stages. The Tobacco Excise and Bill was considered in Committee. There was considerable discussion 011 the part of the Auckland members, and eventually the proposed duty of 8s Gd per lb. on cigarettes manufactured by machiney was reduced to 2s 6d per lb. The Bill then passed its final stages. In the Native Land Laws Amendment Bill clause 19, providing that no barrister or solicitor is to appear or be heard in matters determinable by Native custom or usage, was taken exception to by several members. Sir Robert Stout said the Bill would not prevent what had occurred before viz., lawyers would go to Court and coach the Natives and even write their speeches ; they got the fees for this just the same as though they appeared. The clause was struck out on the voices. Consequental amendments were made in the machinery clauses, and progress was reported. At Saturday's Ministerial caucus the Premier gave a guarantee that the session would be brought to a close on Saturday. The Hon J. G. Ward, who was one of the speakers, said he had no intention of dropping out of political life. He might not be able to take his seat during the next session, but he had no intention whatever of abandoning politics. The Council this forenoon passed the Native Reserves Act Amendment Bill through its final states, and considerably amended the liorowhenua Block Bill in Committee.