AFTERNOON SITTING.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8599, 28 September 1893, Page 6

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. ] QUESTIONS. j Keplying to Mr Dathie, MrSEDDON said the Government did 3 not intend to take action in the matter ot I reimbursing Mr W. B. Edwards the costs 1 jucurred by him in defending the validity of Ins commissiou as Judge of the Supreme i Court or for the lose sustained by him in consequence of giving up hia practice to < accept that office. Considerable discussion took place over 1 tii ß Md other mutters, Mr Fraser having t moved the adjournment of the House to protest against the nature of a reply given 11

by the Minister for Education to a question with respect to the refusal to admit a boy named Waiters to the Deaf and Dumb Institution. RepJving to Mr La wry, Mr SEDDON said the Government could not agree to incur the cost of preparing electoral maps for each Island, showing the various electorates in distinctive colours. Replying to Dr. Xewman, ! Mr SEDDON said he would consider the reducing to Rifle Clabe the price , of ammunition for Martini riSes, j Replying to MijMeLean whether the Post-master-General will take into consideration the advisability of entering into negotiations with the'Huddart Parker Steamship Company for the purpose of considering the advisability of subsidising the said Company on condition that they will iuclude some port in New Zealand in their time ! table, ! Mr WARD said if any reasonable proI posal were made to the Government in this matter they would favourably consider it. Replying to Mr Fisher whether the Government can see their way to refund a fine ox £10 or any part thereof imposed upon Mr S. Soiomon by two Justices at Blenheim on 11th May, 1892, for an alleged offence against the Auctioneers Act, Mr CADMAN said no application had been made to the Government in this matter. Replying to Mr Palmer, Mr CADMAN said it was a fact that police officers had been appointed probation officers in country districts, and so far as he could ascertain the practice worked satisfactorily. Replying to Mr Fish, Mr SEDDON said Mr McKerrow, Chief Commissioner of Railways, was not entitled to a pension, and his status as regards compensation was defined by law. Replying to Mr Allen, (1) whether the order io Messrs Cameron and Christie for 3000 Martini rifles was given after public tender, and if not under what circumstance was he induced to place the order with the firm above-mentioned ; (2) is Mr Seddon aware that the Rifle Association has had offers of similar rifles at a lower price 1 Mr SEDDON said that quotations were asked for and the Government had saved a considerable amount by this purchase. The Agent-General could purchase rifles for £4 4s; the Rifle Association's price was £3, and the Government hus purchased rifles from Cameron and Christie for £2 16s. . ELECTORAL LAW AMENDMENT BILL. Mr SEDDON moved the second reading of the Electoral Lzw Ameudmeufc Bill to amend the Electoral Act, 1893, and .to correct errors made in the Electoral Bill with respect to the inclusion of the word "leaseholder" and inclusion of shearers' electoral rights. Sir J. HALL pointed out that other amendments might be proposed in this Bill which might endanger tJie Electoral Bill already passed this session. Mr SEDDON said there was no danger of that. If there was any strong opposition shown to the Bill it would not be proceeded with. Mr RHODES regretted shearers were not included m the original Bill. The motion was agreed to and the House ! went into Committee forthwith, and it was passed without amendment. 3ir R. STOUT moved a new clause limiting the time from fifteen to five days in which Registrars may make inquiries as to any application preferred to him for enrolment. Mr SEDDON proposed an amendment to make the time seven days instead of live. He thought Registrars should be afforded more time than tive days. After considerable discussion Mr Seddon withdrew his amendment and Sir R. Stout's clause was carried. Mr MACKENZIE (Clutha) moved a new clause to enable women to use electoral rights in voting. Sir J. HALL thought it well to hold this matter over. The clause was lost on the voicee. CRIMINAL CODE BILL. The Criminal Code Bill was committed for consideration of certain clauses. On clause 112—Disobedience to orders of a Court of Justice, Mr TAYLOR objected to this clause as being toa stringent. He said imprisonment for a year was altogether too heavy for an offence of this kind. The clause was struck out. Clauses 114 and 115—Neglecting to aid a peace officer in suppressing rioc and in arresting offenders were struck out. Clause 139—Penalty for disturbing public worship, was amended so as to make the fine for this offence 40s instead of £40. Clause 370—Certain objections not to vitiate Courts' indictments was added to the Bill by 34 to 6. Clause 379—Charge of previous conviction, Mr G. HUTCHISON moved that this clause be struck out. He said he had never heard of an indictment that contained previous convictions. Sir R. STOUT said that was the law at present. The clause was retained by 33 to 6. Several schedules were added to the Bill, which was reported with amendments. The House adjourned at 5.30.