PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1039, 12 June 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Special to the Herald.] Wellington, 3 p. no. Legislative Council. The Council met yesterday at 2.30. Replying to the Hon. Mr. Wilson, Mr. Whitaker said that it would be too retrospective to purge the roll of Justices of the Peace of insolvents, but in future any person becoming insolvent would be called upon to i-esign. Five Bills relating to Native Lands were read a second time and referred to the Native Lands Committee. The Land Transfer Amendment Bill was read a second time, and referred to a Select Committee. The Fisheries Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council adjourned at 4.15. House of Representatives. The House met at 2.30. Major Atkinson stated that a modification of the form of schedules of the Property Tax would be made, probably the time for collection would be extended. The Evidence Amendment Bill was read a first time on the motion of Mr. Dick. The Premier moved a second reading of the Elections Petitions Bill. Dr. Wallis denounced the Bill as unconstitutional, because it remitted the subject of petitions to the judges of Supreme Courts who were politicians of a recent date. Mr. Tole suggested that questions of fact should be decided by a jury, and points of law decided by judges in a court of appeal. Mr* Turnbull considered that the corrupt practices provided against by the Bill should be defined. Debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. Hon. Mr. Hall replied to objections to Election Petitions Bill. He maintained that in -matters of the kind i juries were not so safe as judges. The Bill was then read a second time. Mr. Hall moved a second reading of the Corrupt Practices Bill. Mr. Fox hoped the Government would see their wajr to making provision for the closing of public houses during election times. Dr. Wallis, Messrs Moss, Thomson) Speight, Seddon, Tole, and Reid, criticised the provisions of the Bill, and offered suggestions for amending it. Sir George Grey thought that be tween two such extremes as Sii William Fox and Dr. Wallis th« Bill might be made into a very fail measure.

Mr. Hall replied and the Bill was read a second time. The Regulations Elections Bill was further considered in Committee. The proposal to extend tho hours of polling to 7 p.m. was negatived on a division by 38 to 21. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 12.40. The debate on the financial proposals of the Government, which was to have come on. last night, has been fixed for Tuesday. The Opposition are trying to arrange for a caucus on Monday. It is stated they have chosen a leader, but who it is, is not known. They say themselves there is to be no fight this session, as they consider a no confidence motion hopeiess. They will therefore endeavor to get through the session as quickly as possible.