PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1898, Page 2

PARLIAM ENT.

,«- «, Yesterday's Sitting. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. LUNATTCS ACT. Thfi lion. E. C. J. Stevens moved for tlie appointment of a Select Committee to enquiry into the working of certain clauses of the ljunatics Act, 1882. The enquiry, he urged, was necessitated by the unnecessary returns required of lunacy committees to be rendered to the Public Trustee, and the extra charges so thrown upon the estates of lunatics. The Hon. W. C. Walker and the Hon. H. Scotland having spol^jn in favour of an enquiry, the motion was carried. FISHERIES CONSERVATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Hon. W. C. "Walker in moving the second reading of this Bill said it was the outcome of the recent Acclimatisation Societies' Conference, and only carried out legislative principles already in existence. There was no wish to restrict sport or to enforce regulations which would make criminal a man's natural desire to take for sport or food wild animals. Nothing was contemplated analogous to the oppressive game laws of other countries, but sufficient provision must be made for the protection and encouragement of fish,' the .«. supply of which might otherwise be depleted by unscrupulous people. The Conference had wished to have the same opening and closing days fixed throughout the colony, and the principle was embodied in the Bill, although he (Mr. Walker) was not sure of its wisdom. However, it was proposed to submit both the Bill then before the Council and the Animals Protection Bill to a Joint Committee of the two Houses, when matters of detail could be corrected. The Hon. J. A. Bonar thought great care should be taken about introducing in the colony laws of thu nature of game laws, more especially when, as appeared in the present Bill, industries were affected. Sawmilling and fellmongery would both suffer from the Bill iv its present form. Too great powers of search were also given to officers administering its provisions. The Hon. H. Feldwick thought that the poisoning of streams by fellmougery and sawdust should be rigidly suppressed. The Hon. G. Jones thought wool-scourers •would be affected by the 'Bill in many places, and it was well to recognise that the issue lay in such cases between wool-scouring and fishing. The Hon. T. Kelly maintained that industries which interfered with the purity of the streams should not be considered. The Hon. J. D. Ormond pointed out that fish were good for food as well as for sport, and as a product of the colony deserved consideration. The Hon. Major Harris and Messrs. W. Kelly and J. Kerr spoke to the Bill, which was then read a second time. ANIMALS PROTECTION BILL. The Hon. W. C. Walker moved the second reading of the Bill, and pointed out that it was mainly a consolidating measure, yvitih very few new clauses. It was proposed to make the open season begin for all birds on one and the same day, in deference to the wish of the Acclimatisation Conference. * Special regulations were made for throwing upon freezing works the reponsibility for ttie game the\' took. There was always a difficulty about imposing ■ penalties of this nature, but if game was to be protected deliberate offenders must be punished, especially those who destroyed ruthlessly. The Hon. R. Oliver objected to some details, but supported the main lines of the Bill. The Hon. P. Arkwright thought too much protection was given to hares, which any man should at all times be allowed to shoot on land in his occupation. The Hon. Messrs. Bonar and Jennings criticised some of the points~raised. The Hon. J. Rigg considered the measure a step towards the ?ame laws of older lands in its restrictions, and thought the holder of a license ought to have the right to pursue game anywhere, even over private property, provided he did no, injury to the property. The Bill was read a second time, and the Hon. W. C. Walker gave notice of motion to set up a Committee to join with one of the other House in examining the two measures. \ The Council adjourned at 4 p.m.