PARLIAMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 13509, 17 July 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

[By Telegraph.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, July 16. The Gold Duties Act Amendment Bill passed its second reading. The second reading of the Rating on Unimproved Value Bill was agreed to after a short discussion by 20 to 12. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Wesleyan Methodist Church Property Act Further Amendment Bill passed its final stages. A lengthy discussion arose on a report from the Reporting Debates Committee on the inquiry relating to the printing of the evidence on the Horowhcnua Commission.— A motion by Mr Hall-Jones, referring the report back to the committee, was carried by 35 to3o. . .. Mr Seddon’s - motion to omit from the order of referenda appointing the Select Committee to inquire into banking matters the following words “ And to confer with any similar committee appointed by the Legislative Council,” was agreed to on the voices without discussion. . . Consideration of local bills occupied the rest of the afternoon. Evening Sitting. Several local bills were disposed of, and the Female Law Practitioners Bill passed its final stages on the voices. The Deceased Husbands Brother’s Marriage Bill was road the third time by 27 to 12, and passed. Mr Steward moved the second reading of the Public Morgues Bill. Agreed to on the voices. , , Mr G. Hutchison moved the second reading of the Stock Act, 1895, Amendment Bill, to allow stock to be driven at night.— The Hon. J. McKenzie opposed the bill, as it would tend to facilitate sheep stealing, which the Act of 1895 was designed to prevent. Mr Buchanan said the law at present was practically a dead letter and people now drove sheep about at night without let or hindrance.—Mr Wilson regarded the bill as a retrograde step.—Mr Hogg opposed the bill and said that owing to the legislation of the present Government the crime of sheepstealing .was very much diminished in his district. —After further debate the second reading was negatived by 35 to 15 and the bill thrown out. Mr Collins moved the second reading of the Abolition of Capital Punishment Bill. He said there was a widely growing feeling in the world that capital punishment would be abolished sooner or later, but he agreed at the same time thao there should be some deterrent against the crime of murder. Capital punishment, however, was no deterrent in cases of premeditated murder and he contended that it was possible to have some less repulsive mode of punishing a murderer than at present existed.—Mr T. Thomson did not wish to oppose the bill because if ho expressed his own individual opinions he would support it. As it was a matter of such serious moment, however, he felt it should be dealt with by the Government and not by a private member.—Mr Earnshaw opposed the bill as he was a strong believer in capital punishment. The Hon. J. McKenzie, speaking as a private member, said no demand had been made from the people of the colony for the abolition of capital punishment. He felt satisfied that the mere fact of capital punishment being the law of the land acted as a deterrent. If any punishment was to be substituted for hanging they weretolditmust be solitary confinement for life, and he agreed with Mr Duthie that it was more merciful to hang a man than to subject him to torture of the latter description.—After further debate, in which the weight of opinion was against the bill, the second reading was refused by 36 to 16 and the bill thrown out. In committee on the Limitation of Power of Disposition by Will Bill, clause 2—affirming the principle of the [bill —was agreed to, after which Sir R. Stout consented to report progress. Sir R. Stout’s Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill passed through committee with a slight amendment. The House rose at 12.20 a.m.