PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17089, 22 August 1917, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

NOTES FEOM THE PRESS GALLERY.

(Fhom Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, August 21. In the-Legislative Council this afternoon Sir Francis Bell moved that Standing Order 205 should be amended by the insertion of the words "or amended by" after " initiatedin." The effect of the amendment would be to make it clear that the Council had power to suggest amendments in Bills containing money clauses that had coine trotn the House of Representatives. The suggested amendments would be printed in antique type, and could not be insisted upon. Jhe motion was adopted. THE JURIES ACT. The Hon. J. MacGrcgor moved, in the Legislative Council this afternoon, the second reading of the Juries Act Amendment Bill providing that in criminal cases the verdict of three-fourths of a jury should count as the verdict of the jury 7 in "he event of failure to reach agreement. He Said that the proposal was one of a group which he had placed before Parliament 20 years ago. Most of the other reforms suggested by him had already become law.' He felt confident that. he would receive the support of a majority of the members of the Council for his Bill, which he regarded as a very important amendment of criminal procedure. The Bill probably would not reach the Statute Book during the present session, but he would produce it again m later sessions. The judges of the Supreme Oourt had given their opinions on his proffl I £ Dd r h °.t e °P' nions had been laid on the table of the Council. The Chief Justice approved of the change, and pointed out that only m the British Empire and .certain parte of the United States was unanimity of the jury required in criminal cases Sir Robert Stout believed that a three-fourths' verdict would be proper. Mr .Justice Denniston said that the demand for unanimity was unreasonable and unjustified, and the cause of repeated failures of iustice. 6,r Joshua Williams had been strongly m favour of a three-fourths majority Four of the judges were in favour of the proposal and three were onposed to it. Mr MacGregor quoted authorities m support of his Bill, the first beinir dated 1730. He traced the historical origin of thexjury system in detail, and read statethe subject by American judges and others. h The Hon. Mr Samuel said that he wished to speak regarding the Bill, but would require a considerable amount of time He therefore moved the adjournment of the debate. The motion was carried. UNREGISTERED DENTISTS. Mr Payne presented a petition to Parliament to-day from the Auckland unregistered dont.sts praying that legislation °be passed this session to enable men with practical knowledge of 'dentistry who have served with registered dentists for a certain term of years (say, five), and who are able to pass a practical examination on the various departments of dental science, to be registered as dentists and practise in any part of the dominion on their own account and that the first of such examinations take place within the next six months.