PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7450, 2 October 1895, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(From Our Special Reporter.) Wellington, last night. CAPTAIN TUCKER'S PETITION. The Waste Lands Committee, reporting on the petition of Captain W. H. Tucker, praying for an investigation of certain orders of the Native Lands Court, having reference to the Makauri, Taruhera, and Tahoka blocks, and that he may not be deprived of the benefits of a judgment of the Supreme Court, or compelled to submit to an unauthorised rehearing, recommend that the petition should be referred to the Petitions Classification Committee, evidently with a view to its being referred to the Native Affairs Committee, to which Committee the Public Petition Committee also recommend Captain Tucker's petition for redress in connection with the Crown grant of Makauri and other blocks should be referred. BANKING LEGISLATION. It has been rumored for some days that further banking legislation was to be introduced this session, but apparently there ifl no ground for the report. Dr Newman asked a question on the subject this afternoon, but the Premier jokingly replied that the idea of further banking proposals quite shocked him. It had, in fact, almost taken his breath away. That was a sufficient answer for the hon. gentleman. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. Captain Russell complained in the House thia afternoon that when the Public Works Statement was brought down last session it was so hurried on that members had no opportunity of looking into it before being called on to vote on the Public Works estimates. He hoped that the same coarse would not be followed this year. The Premier said that until the Tariff Bill was finally disposed of and the consolidated, estimates passed he would not have an assured finance. Therefore, it was impossible at present to consider what appro* priations should be made for public works. THE MASTERTON MURDER. In asking the Minister of Justice what was the significance of the sentence lately passed on Somerville, the Masterton murderer, viz. : 11 To be confined during Her Majesty's pleasure," Mr Hall said that he had received a communication from several persons who had known Somerville for a number of years, and they felt that the death sentence ought to have been carried out. These people wished to know, and he, too, wanted to know, what was the full significance of the, sentence. He hoped that the meaning was that the certificate of a medical man that Somerville was sane would not be sufficient to ensure his release, but that the Govern* ment would require a number of men to certify to his saneness. Otherwise other men might be liable to be shot down. The Minister of Justice replied that thß statute provided that where medical men certified that an inmate of an asylum was. sane, and could be discharged without danger to himself he should be set free. In the present case the Government would exercise every precaution to see that Somerville was thoroughly sound in his mind before he was permitted to be discharged. THE VACANT JUDGESHEP. A complaint was made by Captain Russell yesterday that justice was being delayed by the appointment to the judgeship rendered vacant by the death of Justice Richmond, not being filled. The Premier said that the Government were anxious to avoid seeing a continuance of some judges being over worked, while others were apparently under worked. With that view he had asked the Chief Justice to furnish a return of business dona by each of the judges. The first thing to be determined was as to the necessity of another judge, but. that could not be deter* mined till the information requested was to hand. Ab stoon as he got that information the House would be informed what course) the Government intended to adopt. •THE NEW TARIFF. The Colonial Secretary, in reply to a question from the Hon. Mr Reynolds, stated that the Customs department anticipated a. loss of £5000 in revenue under the newTariff Bill. This was, however, a mere estimate, and probably there would bo neither loss nor gain. VOTING IN THE COUNCIL. No ohange in the system of voting in the Council is to be made. Several proposals were considered this afte: noon , but were a U rejected. „ . DAY. SITTINGS. „ 1 Mills was informed by the Premier this afternoon that he was favorable to a trial of day sittings of the House. As soon as they met next session, the Standing Orders Committee would be summoned to consider that and other proposals for tha amendment of the Standing Orders. THE AGENT-GENERALSHIP. The Premier tgld Captain Russell that there was no cause for anxiety because of the delay in announcing whether the present Agent-General was to be re-appointed, or whether another gentleman was to be selected. There were no important financial transactions respecting the colony now going on in London. The matter would, however, be considered by the Cabinet on the following day, and the House told next afternoon what the intentions of the Govern* ment were. CUSTOMS AND EXCISE. ' .' A beginning with the debate on the Cos* toms Duties and Excise Bill was made in the Council this afternoon. After the Attorney-General had formally moved its second reading, The Hon. Mr Reynolds characterised the Bill as a mere conglomeration of ideas whioh had not received proper consideration from the Government. The tariff would relieve a few people, and those not the working classes, at the expense of the many. The Customs officials, too, would have much more trouble in collecting Customs than heretofore. It would be in the best interests of Parliament, Ministers, and the colony, to drop the Bill. The present tariff was an abortion. The Hon. Mr Pharazyn said the Council could have amended the Bill in several directions that it would deem necessary if it had power to do so. In his opinion the present Bill would go far to destroy the Government and the so-called Liberal party. He quoted from the report of the Tariff Commission to show thatthe working man was taxed without receiving any compensating benefit. Itt I the boot duties, as in the match industry » the Treasurer, though quite innocent, had [been "got at" by interested parties to impose or alter the duties. It was perhaps best for the colony that it should experience the effects of this tariff, as it would cause a re-action in favor of freetrade. ' At this stage the debate was adjourned till the following afternoon. Wellington, to-day^ MIDLAND RAILWAY. I have authority foe stating that there is no foundation for the statement published in the Christchuroh Press, " That the AgentGeneral has communicated to the Government an. opinion from English counsel that the seizure of the Midland Railway was illegal." Mr Perceval was never instructed to take legal opinion, and no communication on the subject has been received from him by the Government.