HOUSE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 255, 7 November 1879, Page 2

HOUSE.

Wellington, Thursday night. Colonel Trimble gave notice to move that the names of all female ratepayers be placed on the electoral rolls. The Government will not appoint a Minister of Mines with a portfolio separately from any other office. The Premier referred to the question raised by the Native Affairs Committee, viz., that Worgan now in gaol at Wanganui \ should be brought up by order of the Speaker to give evidence before the Committee. i<e pointed out that this was a question for the House to deal v/ith when satisfied that the necessity was sufficiently plain. Hereupon a long debate ensued, Messrs. Moss and Speight disagreeing with the position take up by the Premier. Mr Whitaker went into the whole history of the case ns made known before the Committee, to show that the request to produce Worgan came from a member of the Committee only, and not from the petitioner or the person petitioned against. He did not approve of a prisoner giving evidence regarding an indictable offence which afterwards might be used against him. Mr Sheehan said the prisoner need not give such evidence Mr Hamlin, the Chairman of the Committee, by permission of the House explained the circumstances, by which it appeared that the prisoner Worgan now in gaol and Mr Sutton, a member of the House, were together charged by the petitioner George Davey with conspii ing to defraud one Roro Nonah of a large estate, and that the natives alleged to be defrauded had no means to prosecute the case before the Supreme Court. Mr Ormond objected to such a matter being referred to a Committee constituted as this Committee was. They had no evidence as to the bo* n fides of the case. The prisoner would have been produced before, but tbat the Judge refused because it might interfere with the prisoner's defence. A political tribunal was not the proper one to try a case like this. In order to test the feeling of the House in this matter he moved that the Speaker's warrant does not issue until the Committee haa first ascertained whether the petition was authorised by the natives concerned, and that the petitioners have not the means to bring the case before an ordinary Court. J Mr De Lautour detailed the circumstances of the case, saying that he would answer for the b<ma fide*. The Premier said he thought the reasons given by the Chairmau of the Committee were sufficient, and if the Committee were also satisfied he thought the warrant should issue at once Questions tbat could be decided by a Court of Law shoirld not be brought before the House, and he was glad it had been raised If the Committee re parted that the petiii.ner had no means of obtaining redress through want of funds then the case ought to be taken up. He supported Mr Ormond's amen Irnent The debate was interrupted by 5 30. T . . , Friday. Last night the debate was resumed regarding the production of Worgan before the Native Petitions Committee, and after some discussion Mr Ormond's amendment was lost by 44 against 21, and the motion was agreed to for the production of Worgan before the Committee. The House then proceeded to consider the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill — Messrs-Adams an 1 Rolleston wanted the BMI postponed to give time for its consideration. — iMessrß Brandon and Montgomery opposed the Bill altogether.— Mr Moss supported it — Mr Tole thought there was more imprisonment for debt now than before the passing of the Bill for its abolitioo.-Mr Speight supported the Bill.— Mr Seddon thought that dishonesty was increasing in the colonv.— Ultimately progress was reported, and le»ve given to sit next Thursday. The remaining business was not ol general interest.