YESTERDAY'S PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19326, 12 August 1926, Page 8

YESTERDAY'S PARLIAMENT

HOUSE of representatives Tho House went into committee on the National Provident Lund Bill, wliich is a consolidating measure. It was reported from tho committee stage unamended, read a third tune, and passed. * „ .. u The, Land and Income Tax (A’l.’tual) Bill was reported from the committca without amendment, read a third tunc, and passed. , The Land and Income Tax Amending Bill was road a second time. Mr Nosworthy moved tho second reading of the Samoan Act Amendment Bill, which, he explained, proposed to make a reduction in the num her of members of the Legislative Conn cil of Western Samoa from ‘ not left than six” to “ not less than four not more than six.” Another provision n that Polynesians of mixed descent, but having the status of Europeans by virtuo of the principal Act, may ,he declared Samoans. Tho jurisdiction oi tho High Court is to be extended U matters matrimonial, and the Legislative Council of Western Samoa is to M empowered to make ordinances dealing with divorce and other matters matrimenial applicable to Samoans only. The provision that every year served hy a Civil servant at Samoa is to count as a year and a-half for superannuation purposes is to bo made to apply to those public servants employed in Samoa in a civil capacity pnor to the passing of tho measure which makes tho provision aforementioned.—l ho Loader of tho Opposition complained of tho constitution of tho Samoan Legislative Council, which was mostly a mock Parliament, inasmuch as it was dominated by the Administrator and his employees. The franchise for throe elective members was also unfair, since it was limited by tho L2OO property qualification. He regretted there was no provision in the Bill dealing with the health conditions of the island. Ho was satisfied Chinamen were not necessary in Samoa, since experience of every year was proving more and more that they could ha done without.— 1 1 no Minister, in reply, said the proof that the administration of Samoa was givinp; satisfaction was . the fact that no had no complaint from an f y section of the community.—Tho Bill was road a second time. _ The second reading ol the Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill empowering the eliminating of destructive animals and birds in scenic reserves was moved by the Hon. A. D. M'Leod, and agreed to after a brief debate. The Cook Islands Amendment Bill was read a second time on the motion of Sir Muni Poinarc, and the House rose at 11.30 p.m.