HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4266, 2 September 1882, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday. LAW PBACTITIONEBS BILL. In Committee Mr Seddon: moved that the qualification " general knowledge " be struck out; it was one of those indefinite terms which left it in the power of judges to make the examination so arbitrary that anyone who wished to refuse a candidate or class of candidates for admission could do so. Mr M. W. Green proposed the substitution of "constitutional history" instead of " general knowledge."—The amendment was lost on the voices. ■ Mr Seddon objected to clause 14, as it would prevent anyone but a barrister from appearing in Court. He argued that this would be placing a restriction on solicitors which had not hitherto existed. Clause 55 was retained on a division by 38 to 35 ; clause 56 was struck out Mr Seddon moved to reduce the admission fee from £12 to £10 -]% This was negatived by 40 to 32, and the bill passed. This day. Progress was reported with leave to sit again on the Mining Companies Act Amendment Bill. ' In Committee on the Rating Bill, Major Harris moved to strike out the words " with buildings and improvements thereon."" Lost by 50 to 17, Clause 9 was struck out, and clause 8 amended on W. C. Buchanan's motion to make the charge for copies of the roll only sufficient to cover cost. Progress was reported on clause 20 with leave to sit again. The following bills were read a third time and passed—Special Powers and Contracts, Hamilton Boundaries, Auckland Museum Endowment, Auckland Improvement Act Amendment, Explosives Dangerous Goods, Patea Harbor, Land Te Aro Township, and Law Practitioners. The House rose at 1.5 until 11 to»day.