PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4741, 5 September 1893, Page 1

PARLIAMENT.

-l». — HOUSE OF EEPEESENTATIVES. MONDAY, SEFT. 4. EVENING SITTING. The Houee met at 7.30 p.m. CHEVIOT. The Cheviot Estate Disposition Bill was reported from Committee, read a third time and passed, ! magistrates'" courts. The Hon W. P. REEVSSmoved the second reading of the Magistrates' Courts Bill, which he stated was to a large extent a consolidating measure, and was intended to consolidate and amend the law relating to the jurisdiction of Magistrates and Justices of the Peace in civil matters. The most novel portion of the Bill extended the jurisdiction of Magistrates, which had hitherto been limited. By the Bill all Magistrates would have jurisdiction in the ordinary way up to £100, and the extended jurisdiction proposal would give them special powers to deal with cases up to £200. After explaining various other provisions in the Bill, he said it had passed in the Legislative Council, where it had received careful revision. Sir E. Stout hoped that the Government would be able to put this Bill and the Criminal Code Bill through the House this session. This Bill really effected a very desirable reform, and it would provide that New Zealand would have in the future only two classes of Courts, namely, the Supreme Coutt and the Magistrate's Court. Motion agreed to. CRIMINAL CODE. The Hon "W. P. Reeves moved the second reading of the Criminal Code Bill, explain- ; ing that it had passed in the Council six times, and had been read a second time in the House three times, butalwaya failed to j pass through Committee. H« could assure the House that with one exception not a single new punishment was embodied in the Bill, whilst a number of punishments were modified. It was provided in Clause 184 that anyone would be liable tc flogging for wantonly endangering parsons on railways or tramways. He need scarcely remind the House j of the necessity of codifying the law in this j direction, and he hoped that the second reading would be carried. Mr Taylor would not oppose the Bill, j but he a3ked why they should retain in the Bill punishments which should not be found there. Mr G. Hutchison thought the Bill would be useful as a consolidating measure. He pointed out that the Bill last year was referred to a Committee, whose recommendation had been carefully ignored by the Government. That was no way for the Government to treat a Committee if it desired the Bill to pass ; and if it ignored recommendations of the kind it must not expect the Bill to pa°s this session. Sir R. Stout thought the Bill was very necessary. He suggested that the House should be asked to debate in Committee only the new clauses in the Bill, and any other clauses that might be considered necessary. If they were to debate the whole of the clauses in the Bill it would occupy a week. Dr Newman agreed with Mr Taylor that there were too many punishments in the Bill, and he thought that they sho^d be modified. Mr Tanner said the Bill was unrevised, and many of the punishments contained in it were a disgiace to any civilised community. He thought the House would not be doing its duty unless it appointed a Committee to go through this Bill clause by clause. Mr Fergus thought it was time they brought their criminal law into something like an understandable shape, and he should vot9 for the second reading of the Bill. Mr Allen supported the Bill, and hoped it would go to Committee, when reasonable amendments could be made in it. Mr Palmer said thero was a good deal of new matter in the Bill, including the Criminal Court of Appeal. The Hon E. J. Seddon was surprised at the reception the Bill was meeting. He thought many of the punishments in the Bill were too severe, and the Government desired to give the House an opportunity of reviewing those punishments. He quite agreed tbat only the new clauses should receive consideration, and any other clauses that members might desire. If that course were pursued there would be a good chance lof the Bill passing this session. The Government did not wish to hurry it through, but desired to give members sufficient time to consider such an important measure. Mr C. H. Mills supported the Bill. Mr Hogg supported the Court of Criminal Appeal, and hoped that the Committee would make the necessary amendments in the Bill. Mr W. Hutchison hoped that the House would not consent to the consideration of special clauses only, but would deal with the whole Bill. Motion agreed to. Mr Reeves then moved that such clauses of the Bill be committed, as may be named at a future date. After some discussion this was agreed to. DISTBICT COURTS. The Hon W. P. Beeves moved the second reading of the District Court Jurisdiction Bill, to extend the jurisdiction of District Courts in civil cases and in certain criminal cases. The most important part of the Bill was the clause providing that every District Court ehall have jurisdiction over all ca^es of a civil nature in which the claim shall not exceed £500, and also on all partnership accounts and disputes between parties in which the claim or value of interest in property shall not exceed £500. Sir E. Stout thought the Bill waß altogether in the wrong direction. There waß no necessity, he held, for any other Courts than the Magistrate's Court and the Supreme Court. Motion agreed to. SUPREME COURT. The Hon W. P. Beeves moved the second leading of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Acts Amendment Bill, to confer certain powers on Eegißtrars of Supreme Courts in certain cases. The Bill provided that Registrars of the Supreme Court may act for the Judges in certain cases, and contained no novel principle. Motion agreed to. CIVIL SERVANTS. \ The Hon J. G. Ward moved the Becond reading of the Civil Service Officers' Guarantee Bill, to provide a more extended system of insurance of fidelity of officers of the Civil Service of New Zealand. He explained that the Bill was intended to provide that all officers of the Civil Service Bhould contribute in case of defalcation by any member of the service. Agreed to. LAND DRAINAGE. The Hon J. M'Kenzxe moved the second reading of the Land Drainage Bill, to provide for the drainage of agricultural and pastoral lands. He said the Bill had been very carefully prepared, and had been asked for by a large number of people in the Colony. As he proposed to send the Bill to the Stock Committee he should not take up the time of the House in going further into it. He hoped the Bill would be read a Becond time and cent to the Commit^oj. Mr Wrigiit agreed that the Bill waa of a very important oharacter, but it would require considerable amendment in Committee. The principal objection to the

Bill was, to hia mind, that it proposed to create more local todies in the sbape of Boards of Trust. Dr Newman support ad the BUI, and ssrid it was much needed. Be hoped, however, that in Committee the Minister would put : oil owners on the same fosting.Motion agreed to. LAND ACT AMENIJ-ISteNT. Ihe Hon J. M'Kenzie moved the second reading of the Land Act Amendment Bill, whieli he said corrected mistakes- in the Acf of last session. It gave the necessary power to cut roads through leasehold lands, Mr ©. Hutchison agreed with the alterations proposed, especially that providing that bonds should be received instead of money. Mr Vamntinb also agreed with- that proposal, and thought it very desirable. Mr Bucieanan urged the appointment of experts to value land before it was put up for sale. Mr Whisht thought that there should be some check in the Bill to provide against speculative applications. Mr Hogg- supported the Bill. Motion agreed to. THE GIHMERBURN FOREBT. The Hon J. M'Kenzie moved tbe second reading of the Gimmerburn Foreßt Bill, explaining that the land had been set aside twelve years ago as a forest reserve, and there was no timber on it. The land had been in the occupation of one gentleman for the last twelve years without any rent, and he thought it was time that the Colony should get something out of the land. Sir E. Stotjt suggested that if this Bill passed, the land ought to be given to the County Council on condition that it planted it. Sir John Hall thought that when they were asked to deal with a forest reserve they should have a full report from the Commissioner of Crown Lands. He regarded the abolition of forest reserves with great anxiety, and he felt sure that in time to come regret would be felt at their abolition. Mr Eollebton regarded the 8.1 las a local Bill, and thought that people in thelocality should have some voice in the matter. The Speaker ruled that this was not a local Bill. Mr Scobie Mackenzie said he was well acquainted with the land in question. It was in his own district, and he thought it would be much better occupied in settlement than to lie waiting for forest to be planted. Motion agreed to. KXNGDON LAND GRANT. The Hon J. M'Kenzie moved the second reading of the Kyngdon Land Grant Bill, which, he explained, waa a technical measure to rectify a title to certain land. Agreed to. COALFIELDS. The Hon J. M'Kbnzie moved the second reading of the Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Act, 1877, Amendment Bill. He said the Bill was intended to place the tenure of the Westport colliery reserves in a more equitable position, thereby giving effect to the report of the Commission appointed during the recess to enquire into this matter. Mr RoLLEBTONfaid he should investigate the Bill very closely in the Waste Lands Committee. He considered tbat it wa3 nece3?ary. Mr Valentine thought if the tenants were assured of a reasonable tenure for twenty-one years they would be prepared to spend money in improvements. The Bill was a reasonable one, and was for the protection of the public. Sir E. Stout said he had been over the place recently, and found that there was ample accommodation for railways for twenty years to come. As the Bill was going to the Waste Lands Committee it waa unnecessary to discuss its provisions. Mr Weight thought if the Bill proceeded on the lines laid down by the Commission there could be no good reason for objecting tJ it, but it justified the introduction of the Bill of last year. Motion agreed to. HALSWELL RIVEE. The Hon J. M'Kenzib moved the second reading of the Halswtll Kiver Drainage District Bill. Agreed to. WEST COAST SETTLEMENTS. The West Coast Settlements Eeserves Act Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 8. The Hon J. Carkoll moved an amendment to the effect that the Public Trustee may advance money to the extent of half the value of improvements. The amendment was withdrawn after some discussion. The remaining clauses were passed, and the Bill was reported with amendments. The House rose at 1.10 a.m.