PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 61, 9 September 1904, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S SITTINGS. ■ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Conncil continued its sitting a (tor wo wont to press yostorday. • The nftornoon was ocoupiod in discussing a question of privilogo raisod by tho Hon. J. Rigg, ana n motion by tho At-tornoy-Qonoral rognrding Chinese labour on tho Hand. Tho Council roso at 4.85 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tho House continued its sitting aftor wo wolYt to prfiss yestorday. LOCAL BILLS. Tho aftornoon was spent chiefly in considering Local Bills. Tho Hokitika Harbour Board Empowering Bill- was pnt through 'final stages, and tho Stratford District Hospital Bill passod its committee stage. THE' BOXING BILL. Tho Houso disagreed with tho. amendmonts made by tho Legißlativo Council ,in tho Police Offences Amendmont Bill. SECOND READINGS. Tho Potroloum Mining Bill arid tho Mining Act Ainondment Bill were road, n second timo pro forma, and referred to the Minos Committee. EVIDENCE BILL. Tho Minister for Justice movod to rocommit tho Evidence Bill, for tho purpose of reinserting clause 25, which had b^n struck out when tho Bill was going through committee Mr. Millnr moved to recommit clauso 16, in which had boon inserted a provision that a porson oharjjod with gaming may bo compelled to givo ovidonco. Mr. Taylor did not soo why a porson charged with any_ offonco should bo compollod to givo ovidenco against himself. Tho Minister for Justico said gambling was a groat evil, Tho Government had mado efforts to control it, and ho contonded that tho law at present (without such a provision ac proposed) was detective. The intontion was not to compel a defendant to givo ovidenco, but to compol thoso who had boon with the defendant, and who vrero callod aa jvifcnossos, to give ovidonco. Objection was also takon to tho Minister's proposal to again considor clauso 26. That clause provided that no proof shall bo roquired of affidavits mado abroad, and when tho Bill was going through committoo it was strnck out. Tho proposal to reconsider it was negatived by -43 votes to 11, and Mr. Millar's motion to roconsidor clauso 16 was carrind on the voices. In committee, Mr. Davey movod that gaming bo struck out of tho list of subjects in cases concerning which any porson might bo forced to givo ovidenco. ' Tho motion to striko out "gaming" was agreed to. - , On the Minister for Justico's motion, the clauso was amended so as to excludo tho accused • from its oporation. ■ Tho clause- was then struck out by 85 votes to 21. Clauso 17, which proposes to froo from all penalties a witness making truo discovery when examined us 'provided- in t'lft u so IG, was struck out. Tho amendments wcro reported, and tho Ministor moved that tho amendments bo considered next sitting day. Mr. Millar pointed out that this was tho only opportunity tho Houso would have of ratifying its rojojution of tho clauses, and if the Minister's motion was carried, this opportunity would bo lost, and tho Ministor might bring down tho Bill again to-morrow. Mr. Baumo moved, as an amendmont to ( tho Minister's amondmont, that tho" amendments mado in committoo bo considered forthwith. Mr. Baume's amondmont was lost by 29 votes to 28, and tho Minister's amondmoht was agrocd to, LICENSING BILL. ' The second reading of tho Licensing Bill was movod by tho Premier. • Tho debato is roportod clsowhoro. Tho, Houso rose at 0.15 a.m.