PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 46, 19 June 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

IN HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [By Telegraph.] (From »((;• Spn-idl < / Wellington, This day. The Hon Major Steward's Mortgages Bill is intended to enable mortgages to be effected without the cost of expensive deeds or instruments. For this purpose a regulation printed iportgage form containing the usual coyenants is to be provided, the stamp duty chargeable upon which being 7s 6d for any mortgage up to £SO, and an additional 7s 6d for each additional ±*so or fraction thereof. Dissatisfaction clearly exists with the administration of the Cheap Money for Farmers Department, and Mr Carncross was cheered by both sides of the House on giving notice of his intention on Tuesday to ask the Government if they will return the valuation-fees paid bv applicants for loans under the Advances to Settlers Act in those cases where the security was reported on as sufficient, and nevertheless the Board refused to make the advances applied for. The extinction of racing is threatened by Mr W. Hutchison, who is introducing a Bill to prevent undue space being given by newspapers to racing news, to prohibit them publishing betting odds, and to endeavour to prevent the circulation of printed papers from Australia dealing with consultations. Mr Pi rani has a Bill on the stocks to enable any congregation to appoint one of their number other than the officiating minister to celebrate marriage. The second reading of the Coroners Bill was the principal business before the Council yesterday afternoon. This measure is an amendment of the present law by abolishing coroners' and deputy coroners' fees, coroners' juries, and the viewing of a body, and provides that Magistrates (or in their absence Justices) shall conduct inquiries into deaths and fires. Exception was taken by the Hon. Mr Shrimski to the clause providing that where a morgue is a mile away publieans must receive dead bodies or be liable to a penalty not exceeding £5. The Hon. Dr. Grace also objected to the proposed provision permitting Justices to commit a person for trial on the evidence heard without sending the case before the Magistrates Court. The second reading was affirmed on the voices, but the Bill wPll undergo some amendment in Committee. The Infant Life Protection Bill which enlarges the protection of the present law in the matter of babyfarming, the necessity of which was shown by the Winton case last year, was also read a second time in the Council, and was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The debate on the Address in Reply yesterday afternoon was advanced a stage, but the proceedings were absolutely lifeless, and for the most of the time a bare quorum of members was present. ilr Buchanan took up the running with an attack generally on the recess administration, and a condemnation of Mr Seddon's connection with the " Leetle German Band." Mr Carnell indulged in nothing but personalities towards Captain Russell and the twelve apostles of Hawke's Bay concerned with him in the Heretaunga Block. Clutha McKenzie merely took the floor for the purpose of defending his chief and administering a severe rebuke to the member for Napier, while Mr Hogg, who helped to fill in the time till the dinner adjournment, favorably criticised the recess administration," but fell foul of the ActingSpeaker for imputing personal motives to Mr Buchanan.