PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4897, 19 September 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegraph.] (fbom our own coebbspomdrnt.) Wellington, Last night, The Local Courts Bill.

Although the Local Courts Bill is not t\ new bill, having been introduced in the session of 1883 by Mr Connolly, its provisions do not appear to be generally understood, and as it is one of the moat important bills on the order paper, it may be well to refresh your readers'memories. With extended jurisdiction there must be barristers or solicitors, and the ordinary jurisdiction is to extend to debts, contracts, and suits, when the amount claimed does not exceed £50, and to other matters such as interpleas, recovery of possession of lands (subject to similar limitation). Further ordinary jurisdiction may, in regard to those E.M. Courts which have now jurisdiction to £100, be given to the reconstituent courts up to a like sum; extended jurisdiction gives power to deal with all ordinary cases up to £150, and the courts enjoying it may deal with partnership disputes when the amount involved does not exceed that I sum ; and may grant or dissolve injunctions to prevent irreparable injury to property being the subject matter of an action. The jurisdiction of a justice of the peace court is preserved up to £20. The local courts are to have power to refer matters to arbitration; while power to punish for contempt by a fine of £10, or imprisonment of ten days, is given to the new courts ; and they are also to be pourts of record, and ar"e to decide as to all questions of fact as to law, but the ordinary rights of appeal to the Supreme Court are preserved. The Governor may confer upon any stipendary magistrate possessing extended jurisdiction all the powers of a judge in bankruptcy, to' deal with bankruptcy matters, and also all the powers now possessed by the district courts under the Mines Act and the Mm« ing Companies Act. Altogether the bill consists of 104 clauses, most of them relating to technical and routine matters. It is of course possible that the changes proposed may tend iq the direction of

simplifying and improving toe system under which justice is now administered in the inferior courts, but there is really nothing on the face of the bill to impress the fact at all forcibly on the lay mind. This day. m To-aight's Debate. Opinions differ very much as to the programme for this evening, when the adjourned debate on the Financial Statement will ceme on. It is stated that the first ball will be fired by Mr Wakefield, and that Major Atkinson will also speak on the Statement, so one thinks that there will be a sharp discussion, and that the debate will be very prolonged, seeing that there has not been a financial debate for some years worthy of the name, and that advantage will therefore be taken of the present opportunity. On the other hand, it is thought that as no direct attack is to be made on the Government a lengthy debate on the Statement would be a mere waste of time, and that therefore the debate will be speedily closedMr Stout is suffering from a severe attack of neuralgia, and was not present in the Hoase yesterday, and is not likely to attend until this evening, if then.