PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, By Tolesrspti.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Council agreed to an amendment made by tho House in the Acts Interpretation Amendment iiul, provided the House agreed to a necessary consequential amendment. The Masseuif Registration Bill was received from the House and read a first time. The Hon. J. McGregor moved the second reading, pro forma, of the Law Amendment Bill, with a suggestion that it be referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hon. C. Louisson thought the progress of the Bill should be stopped immediately. He thought it wrong to relieve the banks of the responsibility for paying a cheque fraudulently altered, for they were better able to bear the loss than many small depositors. Be moved an amendment that the Bill be read a second time this day six months. The Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Juries Act Amendment Bill (the Hon. J. MacGregor), providing that a five-sixths majority may be accepted in criminal cases, except those in which the accused may be condemned to death, was put through committee.

The Law Practitioners Amendment Bill, providing that solicitors may count the period of their service for the purpose of qualifying for admission as barristers, and repealing the 1915 amendment, which laid down that no barrister practising as a solicitor, or in partnership with a solicitor, may be appointed King's Counsel, was committed. The Hon. J. MacGregor and the Hon. C. H. Izard opposed the latter proposal, which, on a division, was retained by 20 votes to 7. The Bill was put through its final Stages and passed. The Council rose at 4.35 p.m.