PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 40, 15 August 1895, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. YESTHIDAY'a AFTERNOON SITTING. FINAL STAGES. The Reprint ot Statutes Bill (the Attor-ney-General), the Wellington (City) Suburbs Water-supply Bill (the Hon. C. Johnston), »nd the Pnniu Reserves Sale Bill (the Hon. W. Jennings), were read a third time and passed. OTAQO DOCK ACT AMENDMENT. This Bill was read a second time, on the motion of the Hon. W. Bolt. THEUCBKINQ-UACHINX OWNERS* LIEN. In Committee, some disoussion took place upon the wording of the section providing that the lessee is responsible to the contraotor for the cost of threshing the grain if the lien is enforced. Progress was eventually reported, with leavo to sit again. THE CHIMIS CASK. In continuing the adjourned debate upon the motion for the second reading of the Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill, the Hon. W. M'Cullongh. said the Bill did not propose to override the Judicature, as the onus would be thrown upon ths Judgea of the Conrt of Appeal of deciding whether Chemis Bhould have a new trial or not. He did not wish to deal with the case in any spirit of f entiraent. Tet Chemis' conviction had been arrived at upon purely oiroumstantial evidence. The Judge'B- words had been that there was no motive proved for the act. All he (the speaker) aßked was that the attention of the Legislature might be applied to this very peculiar case. The Hon. Sir G. Wnitmore, thongh feeling sympathy with the relations of the prisoner, said that the case could not be properly tried so many years after tlie offence. If any aotion was required at all, it was the Government that shonld take that aotion. The case had already been practically re-tried by proceedings for perjury against the police. In his opinion, the new evidence alleged to have been discovered was not of much value. The Hon. B. Pharazyn said the faot that Chemis' counsel was too ill to properly attend to his olient's defence took the oase out of the category of ordinary cases. Thia was not an ordinary example of retrospective legislation. He had much pleasure in supporting the Bill. The Hon. G. M'Lean said in this matter the Counoil Bhould not interfere. It the Bill was passed, it was as much as saying that the Conncil was a jury, and that it aoquitted the man. If the Executive Council chose to Bet the prisoner free it had a perfect right to do so, but Governments had hitherto refused to liberate him. The Hon. S. Shrimski felt that as an injustice might have occnrred, the man ought to have an opportunity of having the matter deoided. Tho Attorney-General thought the Bill misohievoue. He was not clear on the Bubjeot of the man's innocence or guilt. It iras trne Chemis' conviction was obtained upon oircumstantial evidence. Direct evidence was Beldom obtained in any murder oaee; and in the Somerville cace, where there was the moßt direot evidence of murder, the jury found the prisoner a fool. It would be almoßt impossible to gather the evidence for a new trial in thii case. He would oppose the Bill. In replying, the Hon. W. M'Cullongh said that time should not be put forward in this colony as an obstacle against the doing of jnatioe. A division was taken, and the second reading oarried by 17 votes to 16. The following is the division list : — Atks, 17.— Baillie, Barnicoat, Bolt, Swanson, Shrimski, Pharazyn, Kerr, Kelly, 'Ring, Jenkinson, VVahawaha, Taiaroa. Walker, Feldwiek, Acland. Johnston, M'Cullongh. Noes, 16.— Walker, Richardson,, Whitmore, Bonar, Scotland, "Williams, Jennings. MacGregor, Morris, Stevens, Grace, M'Lean, Pollen, Holmes, Montgomery, Buckley. The Council adjourned at 4 p m.