PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 45, 18 June 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

IN HOESE AN'T) COUNCIL. CAPTAIN ill's ,i.I. ON THE GOvi:L;NM!::.T POLICY. [l>Y T: ■. (From "iif Syria! < - Wellington, This day Pensions in connection with the Justice Department are payable as under:—C. J. A. Has. Id, n (Wellington), £2">- - > I'-)- Id per annum ; Wm. Sommervil'e (Punedin), £105: \\m. Gabriel Fillent (Oaniarub .£'llo lf!s 8d ; George lleiirv P>arnes (Dunedin). £IOO. It is probible that the motion for the proposed Banking < 'ommutie, as suggested bv the Pr : -mi"i\ v.'.il be met by an amendment tor tb<- appointment of a Royal C omioission to consider the whole question. MrANard, who was to hare left for the South yesterday afternoon, has postponed his departure till I. rid ay. The Juries I Jill which th<* Hon T. Thompson has c-bavg" of provides for the abolition ol Grau-i Juries as well as Special Juries, ii: lieu of Grand Juries, the Crown Solicitor, the Soli-citor-General . or the Attorney-''eueivl is to sign the indictments. Additions to the list of exemption from jury sen-ice are the Visiting Justices under the Prisons Act and those engaged on railways. Payment for civil jurors is raised to Ks day, and if no jury should be required, v. asonable expenses to all traveling more than three miles will be paid, afu-r v.-iieh the surplus, if anv ( which is to be derived irom the first day's feest, is to be equally divided among all jurors. The jury fee in criminal cases v. ill be vis per day and 4s additional for every night a juror is necessarily absent from home. The challenges allowed are reduced from twelve to nine.

The Gold Duties Act Amendment Bill repeals section six of " The Goal Duties Act, ISK2," substituting therefor a new clause providing penalties for neglecting to make the necessary declarations and forwarding them to the Clerk of the County Council. The first hour of yesterday afternoon's sitting was taken up with a discussion over one of List session's sensations, the point being as to whether the evidence taken before the Horowhenua Commission should Imprinted. It was stated thai copying the evidence had cost i' 1215, and that printing it would amount to nearly £3OO. The Minister of Lands explained that the printing was necessary to enable members to discuss the report fully. Sir Robert Stout and Captain Russell agreed that it was improper to have appointed civil servants members of the Horowhenua Commission, as they were called 011 to comment on the conduct of their superiors. The motion was agreed to. In the course of his reply on Tuesday night. Mr Ward accused the member for Otaki of having written for financial journals in London concerning the ex-Treasurer's private affairs. Mr Wilson mentioned in the House yesterday afternoon that he had called on Mr Ward and given him an assurance that he had not so written, and the assurance was acceptod. The Council set up the following Committee to investigate banking matters jointly with a similar Committee from the House :—Hons. Arkwright, Bowen, Jennings, Kelly, Montgomery, Orinond. Stevens, and Walker. The following measures were read in the Council for the first time : Coroners (Hon. W. C'. Walker;; Infant Life Protection (Hon. W. C. Walker); Defamation (Hon. 11. Feldwick) ; and Divorce (Hon. W. M. Bolt). The Premier denied in the House the member for "Riccarton's right to question him as to his acceptance of office as a paid member of a mining syndicate. He had been a registered mining advocate for many years past, and Mr G. W. Russell had no more right to question him as to the fees lie got as such than he had to put the present question. Mr Seddon further denied that he was associated with a • 4 Lee tie German Band," but said that the syndicate in question was registered* in London and had on its directory men of the highest financial position. Mr Crowther was informed that the salaries paid to the members of the Estates Realisation Board are £7->0 to the Chairman, £2oo to Mr Eraser, and £2-iO to the Premier. The Hon Mr Cadman promises to give the House before the week closes the name of the new Judge. The Slock Committee are to bo asked to consider the position of the Rabbit Department and its working. Mr Larnach suggests the adoption of wire-netting. In the lobbies last night, it was freely stated that Mr Hogg was to be the new Postmaster - General. I do not believe there is any ground for the rumor, but hold my opinion telegraphed yesterday that Mr Seddon will take the portfolio. The Address-in-Reply was moved in a speech of an hour's duration by Mr Lawry, whose object it was to avoid dealing with the past, which had been the cause of so much recrimination during the recess. A vein of triviality ran through his remarks, which prevented the House taking him seriously, and in this respect he differed from Mr Meredith, the seconder, whose ponderosity somewhat wearied his auditors, though he carried the House with him. Some graceful compliments to the memories of Sir Patrick Buckley and the Hon Dr Pollen were made. Captain Russell's speech in opening the attack 011 the policy of the Government was listened to with respectful interest, and showed the great advance the Leader of the Opposition has made as a Parliamentary debater. He agreed with those who had preceded him in that the only distinguishing feature of

the Speech from the Throne was it'! length, ;iml looked on the many Pulls promised iis only intended for eleetioiiOf'iiii : purposes, and did not attempt to criticise them. hile he would assist in reforming the system of local govt rnment, he would he no party to limning the voting to " one man, one vote.'' Tl;:' debate was about to collapse after the supper adjournment, when Sir Robert. Stout took the floor. He was evidently hampered by the timelimit, hut criticised severely the land administration. After the Premier had replied, the adjournment of the debate was carried.