EVENING SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5326, 2 August 1895, Page 4

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.50 p.m. THBESHING MACHINE OWNERS' LIRN. The Threshing Machine Owners' Lien Bill was read a third time and passed. • CRIMINAL CODE. The Criminal Code Aot Amendment Bill waa committed. Clause 2, Louis Cbemis to have the right to apply to the Court of Appeal for a new trial. Sir E. Stout strongly objected to this Bill, and said that if Chemis were allowed a new trial it should apply to all. Besides, the House had not had the evidence before it, and was not in a position to decide the caEe. Be moved that the 1 Chairman should leave the chair. Mr Bill took a similar view, and said that a great deal of harm would ensue if the House interfered in the slightest degree with the administration Of justice. Mr Q. J. Smith asked whether Mr Mills would accept an amendment providing that any prisoner convicted before the passing of the Criminal Code Act would have the same right of appeal for a new trial as Chemis. Mr Mills said that he had brought in a general Bill lasb year and he was attacked for doing so. The Hon R. J. Seddon said that the Bill would create a dangerous precedent, and he should vote against it, although he was aware that a majority of the House was in favour of giving Chemis a fresh trial. After a lengthy discussion Sir B. Stout's motion was loat by 40 to 13. Mr G. J. Smith moved an amendment to the effect that the Bill should apply to any prisoner convicted of any crime before the passing of the said Act. , Loat by 42 to 12, and the clause pus3ed without alteration. UNCLAIMED HONEYS. The Unclaimed Moneys Bill was committed. The Hon J. O. Wabd said that he wished to propose several amendments in this Bill, and he asked Mr Joyce to raport progress on the Bill, in which caee he (Mr Ward) would take charge of it, and pat a it through committee. Mr Joyce agreed to the suggestion. Mr T. Mackenzie thought that it was not fair to rob Mr Joyce of the credit of passing the Bill. He should support it if the money were not all put into the Treasury, as there were many ways of disposing of money, such as charitable aid, ' &c. • ' The Hon J. G. Ward said that the Bill in its present shape would bo unworkable, and several clauses would have to be re- • drafted. The motion for reporting progress waa carried. COAL-MINES. The Coal-mines Act Amendment BUI was committed. "lhe amendments made by the Goldfields Committee were agrßed to, and the clauses were passed with amendments. ~ Mr G. W. Ru3BEiiL moved a new clause

to the effect that any land known to contain a coal-mine should be act aside aa a coal reserve, worked by the State as a national mine, and the coal therefrom used aa the Minister of Mines may direct, either on the railways or for other public purposes. The Hon E. J. Seddon objected to such a clause being inserted in a Bill of this kind. Lost by 38 to 14. COUNTIES. The Counties Act Amendment Bill was committed. Mr J. W. Kellt moved a new clause _to< the effect that in case of any road district lapsing such district shall merge into the county in which it is situated. Agreed to. The remaining clauses were passed. DEFAMATION. The Dtfamation Bill was committed. The Hon J. G. Ward moved that the short title should be amended so as to make it the Defamation of Public Men Act. He said that if the Bill passed in its present form it would give opportunity to unscrupulous journalists to attack public men. He Baid that there were a few journalists in the colony who were by no means fair in their criticism. He did not object to fair criticism at all, but he did object to scurrilous attacks on the part of certain newspapers, and he hoped that the committee would agree to his amendment. He thought that it was very unfortunate that public men Bhould be subjected to such attacks as were some sometimes made on them by some newspapers in this colony, and if this Bill were passed no man in the House would be safe. > Sir E. Stout asked what clause the Treasurer objected to. The Hon J. G. Ward said that he objected to the whole. of the Bill. Sir E. Stout : Then move that the Chairman leave the chair on the Bill. The Hon J. G. Wabd agreed to that, and moved accordingly. Sir E. Stout said that Mr Ward had adopted a most extraordinary attitude over this Bill. If the Treasurer objected to the Bill he should have had the manliness to do bo on the second reading, so that hia remarks might be recorded in Hansard. Some of the clauses so strongly, objected to by Mr Ward were actually law at present, and were merely declaratory. The Treasurer had condemned certain newspapers, but the Government had actually taken Government advertisements from the most respectable papers in the colony and given them to tbe most scurrilous papers in New Zealand. He defended the Bill at some length, and said that it chiefly related to protection in reporting matters of public interest and publishing fair comment on public questions. . He (Sir E. Stout) considered that the Press of this colony was conducted better on the whole than tbe Press of London. He was surprised at members who called themselves Liberals, and who spoke about the freedom of the Press, objecting to this Bill. The Hon J. M'Kenzie supported the motion that the Chairman Bhould leave the chair. He said that he considered the papers so much praised by Sir E. Stout were just as scurrilous as those he condemned. After a lengthy debate the motion that the Chairman should leave the chair was carried by 32 to 20, and the Bill was thus thrown out. The following is the division list :— Ayks (32): Messrs Cadman, Carnell, Carroll, Collins, Crowther, Duncan, Platman, Graham, Hall, Hall-Jones, Harris, Hogg, Houston, G. Hutchison, Joyce, J. W. Kelly, W. Kelly. M'Gowan, J. M'Kenzie, Meredith, Millar, Mills, Morrison, Parata, Pinkerton, G. W. Enssell, Seddon, E. M. Smith, Stevens, Tanner, T. Thompson and Ward. Noes (20) : Messrs Buohanan, Buddo, Carncrose, Duthie, Earnshaw, Green, Heke, W. Hutchison, Lang, Massey, M'Guire, E. Mackenzie, M'Nab.Miccheleon, O'Eegan, Pirani, Saunders, G. J. Smith, Steward and Sir B. Stoat. Paibs. — Ayes: Messrs Maslin, Beeves, and T. Mackenzie; Noob: Dr Newman, Captain Russell and Mr Button. The Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill, Coalminea Act Amendment Bill and the Counties Act Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. The House rose at 12.45 a.m.