PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5103, 14 August 1895, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

THE MASTERTON MURDER CASE,

Mr W. Hutchison yosterday asked tho Premier if his attention had been drawn to tlie decision of the jury in the case of Somorville, chargod with the committal of a murder at Masterton. In this matter, Mr Hutchison wont on to say, there was a very general consensus of opio%' that a miscarriage of justice taken placo. (Cries of hoar, hear.) Somo means might bo dovisod, ha thought, by which such a mistake should not occur again. Tho Government might porhaps mako some moro strict definition of inian- 1 ity, of what degree of insanity would absolve a man from the consequences of his crime. Such a decision as that given in the Somerville case would have a disturbing effect on tha community, Provision was made in tho Criminal Code Act for criminals to appeal against a decision,and somo provision should bo made for tho Crown doing so also, The Premier admitted that the matter was a very serious one. "The < Government had not had their attention specially called to it, but ho Seddpn) had followed tjiq seivspap'er reports of tho caso very carefully. Ho advised Mr Hutchison to put his question on the odor papei', when the Minister of Justice, who was now absent, would reply in due course. _ Mr Hutchison expressed his Wen. tion of doing so.

THE TIME LIMIT SYSTEM, Mr T. Mackenzie has given ' to move that, inasmuch as tho Stands ing Orders do not now admit of an opportunity being given to members to disousa opposed motions for returns, tho Standing Orders should be amended in order to give membors an opportunity of sn doing on one day of the week. IX BRIEF. An Act to regulate the manufacture and sale of margarine has been given notice of by tho Ministor of < Agriculture. On the 31st March last there weft —including engineers, inspectors, and 84 prisoners—27s2 persons employed under the Government on public works, . During the year the number of dear mutes' at the Sumner' Sohp'ol increased from 39 to 45; the net cost of the school being £3147 7s lOd, an increase oif £135 as "compared iyit]j tlip' pji''eyiouß year. —NX v