PARLIAMENT AT WORK

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 255, 22 July 1920, Page 6

PARLIAMENT AT WORK

- THE TARIFF AND TAXES WARNING FROM PRIME MINISTER ,r -.H \ A NIGHT ON RACING 'fr:'". , The House of Representatives spent the whole of its evening sitting' with the t ; Gaming Bill in Committee. The Bill was eventually put safely through its most difficult stage, I>ut the Government had to fight hard against demands for weakening of certain of the clauses. In one clause only was an important, change made, and this amendment, accepted by the Minister after much argument, • makes it possible for an accused person to .have trial by jury. The afternoon sitting was occupied with a talk on the introduction of a private members' Bill—a Bill which can never go past the introduction stage, as, being a taring Bill, it infringes the prerogative of the Crown. Members talked not - at all about the Bill, but about Customs and other taxation. The Primo Minister had to tell the House some plain truths about the necessity that the revenues of tlie State should not be reduced, and as to how serious a matter was llio rc- ' vision of the tariff. i ■ The legislative Council read a second time a private members' Bill to provide that in criminal and other trials by jury the' Judge may accept a verdict of a five-sixths' majority—ten out of the twelve jurjmen. The House rose at 0.30 a.m.