PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 222, 2 October 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

PKB PRESS ASSOCIATION LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, Ist October. The Council met at 2.30. p.m. The Public Petitions Committee re- j commended to the favourable consideration of the Government the petition of the tea merchants that the insertion of coupons in tea packets be prohibited. It was resolved to am«nd the Standing Orders to the effect that the Chairman of Committees be elected by annual ballot, to be conducted with locked doors. The Council rose at 4.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Toisdat, Ist October. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. Seddon gave notice to move tomorrow that for the remainder of the session the House meet at 7.30 on Mondays. Mr. Thos. Mackenzie asked the Premier when he anticipated the session would olose. Mr. Seddon replied, "As soon as sufficient business has been |done in the interest of the country." Mr. Seddon announced that the amount of Customs duty collected last mon h was £197,586 as compared with £166,487 for corresponding month of Ust y<ar, an increase of over £31,000. A Bill to extend the powers of the Egmont National Park Board was introduced by Governor's message and read a first time. The Inspoctoin of Machinery Act Amendment Bill (Hall Jones) was read a first time.

Mr. S f ddon said he intended to go on with the Estimates to day and tomorrow. He would answer questions on Thursday and Friday. With regard to the petition that an inquiry be made into allegations as to non-enforcement of tht licensing laws in Wellington, the Public Petitions Committee reported as follows: " That the evidence and reports of the Police Department and the evidence given by petitioners disclose no discouragement of zealous police officers in the ad ministration of the licensing laws, but point to the urgent necessity of an amending licensing act by the incorporation of Clause 25 of the Imperial L-'eensing Act, 1872." At 2.55 p.m. the House went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of tbe Estimates.

Tbe first vote taken was Glass IV., Justice Department—£l29,96l. In reply to several members, Mr. McGowan said an increase in salary had been given to the deputy registrars of the Supreme Court in the four chief centres. , '_., -Mr. Ijang urged the Government to appoint more Justices of the Peace in the back country, and several members insisted on the necessity of holding sittings of the District Oourt in country districts. Mr. Pirani said there was no department as little up-to-date as the Justice Department, and he urged the Minister to grant some measure of reform. Mr. Hornsby asked the Government to take in*o serious consideration tbe advisableness of rendering District Oourt Judges independent of the Government of the day. He would like to see the whole of our judiciary made independent, Mr. Millar complained that names on jury lists were known to certain lawyers before oases came on in Court.

Mr. Thomas M»oVenzie suggested the abolition of the jury system altogether. Mr. Wilford explained that the jurv list in criminal case* could be obtained from the Registrar of the Supreme Oourt a day or two before the sessions opened, and he contended it would not be right to tike this privilege away from prisoners, as it prevented men trying a case who were biassed against a prisoner. Mr. McGowan said he would make inquiries in this matter. He was not prepared to express any opinion about the jury system. At the torn District Magistrates and Wardens' Courts £46,550, Mr. Mr. O'M- a a movod a reduction of £l, as an indication that the administration in respect to the setting up of District Courts in country dtVriotsis unsatisfactory. Mr, McGowan said it was not fai', in view of the small amount of work to be done, to ask the Government to go to the exp-nse of establishing District Courts in country districts. Mr Seddon informed the House that tho Government had decided ttwt £550 should be the maximum stlary of magistrates in the four ohiof centres. Mr O'Meara's motion was negatived by 35 to 12, and the vote passed unaltered, On item "Criminal prosecutions, £15,250," Mr Napier anid if shorthand reporters were attached to the Courts he was quite satisfied a saving of £7OCO or £BOOO could be effected. The vote passed unaltered. In the course of a discussion on the vote for Miscellaneous Services, Mr Carroll said the necessity was recognised for the erection of a building in whiph to locate valuable Maori r< lies and curios, and be suggested the Parliamentary tennis ground as a suitable site. The House r- se at 6.30 p.m.