PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 6877, 10 August 1889, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(Por United Pross Association.) Friday.

In tho Legislative Council, The Hon Mr Wilson moved for the appointment of a select Committeo to report upon the circumstances whioh led to correspondence between the Government and Judge Ward.— The Attorney-General objected, but tho motion wns carried after a division by 21 to 13.

On resuming the debato on the segond reading of the Selectors of Land Rovaluatibn Bill, tho Hons. Oliver, Barmooat, and Shepherd supported) and tho Hon Mr Shrimski and tho Hon. Dr Pollen spoke against, and would vote for the Hon. Dr Mantel's amendment, That the Bill bo read a socond time that day six months. — Tho motion was agreed to on a division by 22 to 6, and the Bill was thon a second time.

Sir Frederick Whitaker moved the second reading of the Nativo Land Purchase Aot Amendment Bill, but on the motion of tho Hon. Mr Wahawaha was adjourned till Tuesday.

In the Houso of Representative, The Hon. Mr Hislop moved tho adjournment of the House in order to make a statement as to his connection with the WardChristie case. He denied that he had interfered with the interests of justice in the matter, explaining that all he had done was at the suggestion of a deputation waiting on him on him at Oamaru, with a statement that there had been a mistake in the evidenco. He denied that he hod instructed the Crown Prosecutor at Dunedin to consent to the validity of the warrant of committal which was to send Christie to gaol at Dunedin, or that ho used threats to the Clerk of the Court at Oamaru to induce him to refrain from carrying out the instructions of the Judge in the matter of altering tho warrant. — A lengthy discussion followed, in which Messrs Ballanee, Larnach, Fitzherbert, Hutchison, and Seddon urged thn appointment of a Committeo of Inquiry — Mr Fulton thought tho House, aud not a Committeo, should deal with the matter. The discussion was interrupted by tho 5.30 adjournment.

The House resumed at 7.30.

Sir Harry Atkinson moved, Thnt tho House, at its rising, adjourn till Monday at 7.30 p.m. for Government business only. — MrLarnich moved as a amendment, That the sitting be for tho purpose of considering the appointmont of a Select Committee to investigate the Ward-Hislop case.— Sir Harry Atkinson said he had mndo an offer to tho leader of the Opposition to set apart a day for this purpose, and he looked on the amendment as distinctly traversing the policy of the Government, and should treat the amendment as a nant-of-eonfidenco in the Government, and would not transact any business till this was disposed of.— Mr Ballanco said the Government were responsible for the waste of time. It was an insult to the House to refuse to appoint this Committeo, when a committee had been appointed in the other Chamber. All thoy wanted was that all facts should bo placed before them, and thnt had not been done by the explanation mado that afternoon by the Colonial Secretary.— Tho Hon. Mr Hislop said all the facts were beforo the Houso. If tho Government could not discharge tho ordinary duties of administering justice ho was sure a Committeo could not. — The amendmont was lost by 40 to 36. Sir Harry Atkinson moved the second reading of tho Property Assessment Acts Amendment Bill without remark, — Mr Moss moved as an amendment, That tho property tax is unfair in its incidence, harassing in its offects, and injurious to tbe progress of the country. — Mr Soddon movod tho adjournment of tho debate. dir Harrj Atkinson expressed surpriso that tho amendment had beon sprung on him him after lie had arranged with the leader of the Opposition to bring on tho debate to-night.— Mr Ballanco said in all his experience ho had never known tho Colonial Treasurer bring forward such an important Bill without a word of explanation.— Tho debato was adjourned till next sitting day. A number of minor Bills wero read a second time, and tho Homo then wont into Committeo on tho Patent Dosigns and Trade Marks Bill. The penalty for the unauthorised assumption of tho Royal Arms was struck out, and a new clause insoited providing that tho trado marks of artificial manures manufactured in tho colony must be accompanied by a certified analysis. Tho Bill then passed through its final stages. Tho Houso disagreed with tho amendments made by the Council in the Criminal Evidenco Bill, and appointed a Committeo to draw up reasons. The Houso rose at 12.30 a.m.