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Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 196, 13 September 1900, Page 2

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lecislatl^^^^^H Wednesday, SepteoM^^^^H The Council met at 2 30. The Hon. W. 0. Walker, in reply to the Hon. Mr. Ormond,said the Coloohl Secretary hoped to ba able to arrange for the issue of fishing licenses through the post offices. The Rating on Unimproved Value Act Amendment Bill (Hon. Mr. Pinkerton) and the Testators' Family Maintenance Bill (Hon. Mr, Pitt) were read a second time. The Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Bill (Hon. Mr. Feldwick) was read a second time by 17 votes to

The amendments made by tbe House of Representatives in the Education Boards Election. Bill, with the exception of those made in clause 14, were agreed to. The Council roso at 3.50 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, September 12, The House met at 2.30. p.m. The House resumed in Committee on tbe General Estimates. Class 4, Justice Department, total vote £127,914.—1n reply to Mr. Mere- ! dith, Mr. Ward said the House would bo given an opportunity of discussing the State industrial school question this session.—The quebtion of the appointment of additional Justices of the Peace in country districts, and the inconvenience often caused thereby, was raised by several members.—Mr. A. L, D. Fraser urged that seamen engaged in coastal work should be exempt from serving on juries.—Mr. J. Hutcheson also called attention to the difficulty of aliens obtaining naturalisation papers, and (urged that lees vigorous restrictions should be adopted.—Mr. McGowan replied that the Government had not neglected tbe matter of making additions to the Commission of Peace, and were cautiously making enquiries as to the best men for the position. As to exempting seamen from serving on juries, he thought that seamen as well as other classes of the community should give a certain amount of their time to tho interests of the State. He .also agreed that naturalisation should be freed from some of the restrictions that at present surrounded it, —Mr. Laurenson thought that more care should be exercised in making appointments to justices. Ho also complained that some ef tho occupants of the Supreeme Court Bunch had reached an age at which, in the interests of the proper administration of the law, they should retire. Crown Law Office, £242s.—The Premier, in reply to a question, said Mr. Roid, tho Solicitor-Go aeral, would retire at the end of tho session, and that Mr. S. Fitchett would bo appointed in his place,

Magistrates and V ardens' Courts Mr. R. McKenzie moved that the vote of £54,930 he reduced by XI, as an indication that an additional warden and magistrate should be appointed on the West Coast.—The motion was lost by 31 to 22. • The House took the 5.30 adjournment,

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. The House resumed in Committee of Supply. Native Land Court, £12,6G0. —Mr. Houston thought the time had arrived when these courts should be abolished —Mr. Monk thought litigation amongst natives should bo discouraged as much as possiblo.— Mr. A. L. 1). Fraser condemned tho system that had arisen of the Native Afl'airs Committee reviewing the decisions of the native appelate courts, and hoped that the Government would not revert to the system of dealing with the title to native land by commission.—Mr. Houston was prepared to assert that the Native Land Courts had inflicted cruel wrongs upon the natives, the result, in many instances, of permitting lawyers to appear in cases. Prisons, £28,751.—Mr. Meredith asked how it was- that there were six gaols in the colony whore there were no prisoners.—Mr. Laurenson urged that the gaols should bo removed from the centres of population and hoped the Minister would give special attention to the subject.—Sir. Napier said under the present system we were fast rearing up ar race of criminals and no effort was being put forth to reclaim them.—Mr. E. M. Smith thought the prison system of Now Zealand would compare favourably with that of any other country in tlio world, but believed it could be improved by the adoption of some of the recommendations of the Inspector of Prisons.—Mr. Ell urged upon the Minister to make better provision for treating alcoholic cases and the mentally infirm without committing them to prison. —Mr. Meredith did not want to see prison labor entering into competition with free labour at the samo time he thought that prison labor should b3 so utilisod as to make them self-supporting. Office of industries and commerce, £2125.—1n reply to Mr. Lo.vh, Mr. Ward said tho item of .CIOOO for the promotion of the sale of New Zealand praduco in the United Kingdom, and other markets was intended to cli'ect an extension of markets for the produce of tho colony. Tlio lion.-e adjourned at 10 p.m.