PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 69, 16 July 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

IN HOUSE AND COUNCIL, [l>t Telegraph.] ' From our Sjin-i'il < Orrexponilvnt. > Wellington, this day. The interim report- of the House section of the Banking Committee will be taken into consideration as the first order to-day. The decision of the Council in negativing by 23 to 8 the Hon Mr Jenkinson's motion for admitting press reporters to the bankinc: preceedings has, however, m.ult it hoptlt to look for the two Cnnamrti < ■> -numx jointly. On the point of admission to the press both Commitu-es have taken up a decided stand. We may therefore now look for the separate sets of evidences and two independent reports. The Criminal Code Amendment Bill, which raises the age of protection to 10, passed its final stage in the Council yesterday afternoon, and the second reading of the Chatham Islands County Bill was deferred for a month at the instance of the lion Mr Bo wen, who stated he was informed that the measure was being forced on the people by the magistrate there. Complaint was made by the Premier tbut Mr Leslie, as Secretary to the Horowhenua Commission, had had additions made to the evidence since it had been laid on the table of the House. These were made in the course of printing and at the instigation of Sir Walter Duller. The leader of the Opposition said the Premier ought not to make assertions that public documents were being falsified unless he was prepared to substantiate it, to which Mr Seddon made answer that he was detailing facts. Speaker O' Koike said the charge was a grave one and should be fullyinvestigated by the Reporting and Debates Committee or some other body. The appointment of Major Richardson (Napier) and Dr Giles (Auckland) as unofficial representation Commissioners for the North Island, and of Dr Heslop (Otago) and ex-district Judge Weston (Canterbury) for the South Island was unanimously agreed to. Some slight complaint was made at the Premier's generosity in appointing a gentleman with such decided Conservative leanings as Dr Giles possesses, while Mr Buick found fault with Nelson and Westland being unrepresented on the South Island Commission. After a jhort debate the amendments made by the Private Bills Committee in the Wesleyan Methodist Church Property Trust Act, 1887, Further Amendments Bill were agreed to by the House. Mr Riccarton Russell is asking Government to take steps for the establish-

j ]•; :;i sit Wellington of a depot for ! warlike stores, where the ves-■< Is c' the Imperial Navy could ir-pUnish their supplies. A gtvat deai of time was taken up last evening with Mr CarneH'.s Totalizator Abolition Bill, the second reading of which was carried by 8-4 to 25. The gambling spirit of the age was the cause of much unfavorable* comment, but more than one speak--r deprecated the doing away with the machine, maintaining that it would in no way decrease gambl i ng. The following is the division list on Mr C'arnolPs J»ill: —Ayes, ;-!i—Messss Buddo, Jinick, O'adman, O'arnell, Earnshaw, Flat-man, Hall-Jones, Hogg, Harris, Houston, G. Hutchinson, W. Hutchinson, Joyce, J. TV. Ivelly, T. Mackenzie,Lamach, Maslin, M'Gowan, J. M'Kenzie, M'Nab, Meredith, Miller, Mitchelson, Morrison, Pinker ton, OK J. Smith, Pirani, Saunders, Seddon, Stout, Tanner, K. Thompson, Ward, T. Thompson. Noes, 25 —Messrs Allen, Buchanan, Carnc-ross, Carroll, Collins, O'rcwther, Duncan, Fraser, Graham, Green, Oiuinness, AY. Kelly, Lang, Lewis, Lawry, Masspv, R. M'Komne, M'Lachlan, Millis, O'Regan, Pere, (K W. Russell, Stevens. Ste ward, Te Ao. The second reading of Restraint of Incitement to Betting or Wagering Bill, to render penal the inciting of persons to betting or wagering (W. Hutchison), was carried on the voices. The O'oal Mines Act Amendment Bill (Mr Millar) was read a second time and reform! to the Oioldlields Committee. The Council will probably adjourn for a week from to-morrow. The Banking Committee of that Chamber will however sit every day in the meantime taking evidence in connection with their investigation. The Reporting and Printing Dobates O'onimittee to-day investigated the Premier's charge against the Secretary of the Horowhenua Commission, and found that Sir Leslie had acted openly and above board and with the knowledge pf Mr Otterson, the second clerk of the House. Only extracts were put in the evidence.