House of Representatives.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11978, 22 September 1906, Page 5

House of Representatives.

WELLINGTON, September 21. The House met at 2.30. FIRST READINGS. The following bills were read a first time : — Unclassified Societies Registration Amendment, New Zealand International Exhibition, Police Offences, Martinborough Town Board 4 Eltham Country, Registration of Plumbers, Jubilee Home Trustees (Auckland), Inspection and Registration of Private Hospitals. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. Mr. Maesey drew the attention of the House to tho fact that the proceedings of the Waste Lands Committee are being sent all over the country. He read a paragraph from the New Zealand Timea of that morning by way of illustration. He urged that this was contrary to the Standing Orders, and he thought either that the Standing Orders ought to be enforced or the Committee proceedings opened to the press. The breach of the Standing- Orders by some of the papers was very unfair to the papers which obeyed them. The Premier agreed with these conclusions, and would look into the matter with a view to action. ESTIMATES. The House, going into Supply, resumed the consideration of the Hstimatee. Class X., Native Department, .£18,867. After discussion the class was passed, without amendment. During the discussion of the item " seed potatoes £ 1550," Mr. Fisher pointed out that there were white people who were just as badly in want of potatoes as the -Maori, and hoped the Government would devote aaother =£1550 to their wants. Olaso XI., Justice Department -motes (Department of Justice .£2970 and Supreme Court .£8431), passed unamended. On the vote for Bankruptcy, Mr. Wilford moved to reduce the first item by .£1 for the purpose of instructing the Government to transfer the business to the Public Trustee's Department, which docs some of it now, and could do it all much butter. He ga\e instances. Tho Minister of Justice denied that the work would be better done, affirmed that it would not be so well done by the Public Trust, and also quoted instances. Mr. Izard supported the member for the Hutt. Mr. Laurenson thought there should be a more full answer from the Minister. Mr. Barber declared that the'mercantile community has no confidence in the Bankruptcy Department, and therefore does all its bankruptcy work by private arrangement. The Hon. Mr. McGowan denied this wholesale allegation. Mr. Tanner would not go so far as to join cause and effect, but said it was a fact that the private assignment was now almost invariably the rule. He pointed out that this was fast rendering the statutes of bankruptcy valueless. Mr. Fraser (W.) thought it was only a questiod of njore fully equipping the bankruptcy machinery in outlying places. Mr. Baume warned the Government not to accept an ex parte statement of want of confidence. He said that in Auckland the Bankruptcy Department was regarded with complete confidence. He attributed the increase of private assignments not to any lack of confidence in the official a«igm.«e. but to the decrease in the number of dishonest debtors and the consequent increased disposition to spare honest misfortune the disgrace of bankruptcy proceedings. After some further discussion the amendment was lost on the voices, and the vote, £3753, passed. In the vote for district Magistrates and Wardens Courts, ,£52,500, Mr. Maeeey moved the reduction of il as aa indication that the status of magistrate* ought to be assimilated to that of the Judges of the Supreme Court. The point was under discussion when the House adjourned for dinner at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. After further discussion the Committee divided on Mr. Massey's amendment — Ayes 18, Noes 44. The amendment was lost, and the vote passed unaltered. Vote for criminal prosecutions, ,£13,500, passed unaltered. Vote for Coroners Act, J4600, Mop. Wilford moved reduction by <£1 as an indication of the need for abolishing coroners' juries. He contended that the coroners' juries did no good and much harm through verdicts on one-sided evidence, a mischief which he had often observed in the course of his professional experience. He pointed out the possibility of coroners' jurymen, that had brought in verdicts serving afterwards on the common jury trying the same person in the same case. He gave instances of strange verdicts. He objected besides to the present system of the publication of preliminary trials. Mr. Izard supported. Mr. Fisher opposed, defending the jury principle. After further discussion the Committee divided — Ayes 14, Noes 47. ' Tho amendment was lost, and the vote passed unaltered. Vote, Cook Islands, .£1725. The vote passed unamended. Vote, miscellaneous services, JE5570. In reply to Mr. Maasey, who thought that more of the work of statute revision should be done by Parliament, The Hon. Mr. McGowan said he hoped the Revision Commission would finish its labours during the year. To other inquirers he said that the Department is not bound by any contract, but pan buy any typewriters it pleases. The vote was passed unaltered. Vote, prisons, ,£41,296. Mr. Ell moved to reduce the item .£6OOO for prison camps by ,£l, to affirm the principle that all goods ought to be outside of the city boundaries. The Committee divided — Ayes 23, Noes 37. - The amendment wa3' lost. The prison vote, ,£41,296, passed unaltered, bringing up the total of Class XI. to .£134,345, and progress was reported, after which the House adjourned at 11.20.