EXTRA EDITION. PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1908, Page 6

EXTRA EDITION. PARLIAMENT.

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. W C. Smith gave notice to ask the Government whether it would take into consideration the question of increasing the salaries of registrars of electors in districts where such officials are not permanent Government officials. The lown Boards Bill, Westport Harbour Board Loan Bill, Christchurch City Betterment Empowering Bill, > and the Oamaru Reserves Act were received from the House and read a first time. The Hon. W W. M'Cardle moved— "That in view of the facts — (a) That Mr. Justice Parker, in England, intimated that in his opinion the High Court of Justice in England had no jurisdiction to entertain a suit for tho redemption of tho Mokau leaseholds, the property of Mr. Joshua Jones ; (b) that the Supreme Court of New Zealand has expressed a contrary opinion, refueing leave to appeal ; and (.-) of the grave ■injustice suffered by Mr. Jones in that connection — the Government should introduce legislation, to give Mr. Jones relief." The Hon. J. Rigg seconded the motion. The Hon. Dr. Findlay said it was open to Mr. Jones to petition in the usual way, and so have the rights and wrongs of the case fully investigated. It wasuan exceedingly unwise step for Par•liament to step in and interfere with cases that nad already been decided by the highest court. This kind of recourse to Parliament ehould not be encouraged ; to establish such a thing would be an exceedingly dangerous-prac-tice. (Hear, hear.) The motion was withdrawn. (Left sitting.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. | The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. Barber gave notice to ask theMinister of Lands whether the Government is taking any stops to acquire the Day's Bay property, as requested by a large number of petitioners. | Mr. Laurenson urg«d than rm amendment of the prison system is required, so as to make it more reformative. In his opinion the tree-planting scheme had [ borne excellent fruit. He believed that | from tho £ s. d. point of view it would pay New Zealand to reform our prison system. Mr. Poole declared that the New Zea- . land prisons are far ahead of any* to be found elsewhere in the Empire. | (Left sitting.)