Mr. Speaker ... Session Queries and Asides

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 800, 22 October 1929, Page 1

Mr. Speaker ... Session Queries and Asides

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Mouday. THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reportt ■ Rather a warm discussion on the reopening of the Elsie Walker inquest saved the House from a dull sitting this evening, when reports and papers were the main items on the orderpaper. Two Government Bills were introduced and were referred to the committees with which they were concerned. Things are starting to move now in connection with cleaning up the order-paper, which is a sure sign that the days of the session are numbered, and members will soon be packing their bags once more to live in their electorates, and wait until next session.

The big discussion of this evening centred round the Coroners' Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr. C. E. Macmillan (Tauranga). The statement of the Minister on the subject will be awaited with interest, especially as he is consulting in detail the whole police and departmental file on the Elsie Walker case. The Bill was read the first time. i

Two Government measures were introduced by Governor-General’s message. They are the Native Trustee Amendment Bill, which gives the Native Trustee greater lending powers, and the Slaughtering and Inspection of Stock Amendment Bill, which is mostly a consolidating measure. Both were read the second time pro forma, the first being referred to the Native Affairs Committee and the second to the Agriculture Committee.

There are six items of estimates only left, and smaller items such as motions for return, etc., may have io go by the board.

Among the reports there are two very interesting ones to be dealt with by the House. They are the RotoruaTaupo inquiry and the wheat duties inquiries. These should arouse a considerable amount of discussion.

Long Sitting Ahead Tomorrow evening's sitting should last until the small hours of the morning, for the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill and the Annual Taxing Bill will occupy pride of place on the order paper. The aeting-Leader of the House, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, asked for urgency in consideration of the Bills, and that means the suspension of Standing Orders.

Law Practitioner* The Statutes Revision Committee, represented by the chairman. Mr. W, J. Broadfoot, reported to the House that it had considered the Law Practitioners’ Amendment Bill and recommended that it be allowed to proceed, with amendments. It will be remembered that last session the Bill was “ditched.” The amendment provides that funds not immediately required may be invested in any manner in which trustees are for the time being authorised to invest trust funds. The committee has struck out an alternative allowing the council of the New Zealand Law Society to invest such surplus money as it thinks fit.

* , * Wrongful Imprisonment? A. A. Lind, of Dunedin, who figured some years ago in a sensational court case, and who was sentenced to seven years’ hard labour, has petitioned Parliament for a Royal Commission to inquire into the case or a retrial. Lind, in his petition, states that ha was sentenced for a crime of which he was both morally and criminally innocent. He served six years o' the sentence.