PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2222, 28 October 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. la ANIMALS PROTECTION BIEL Clauses 39 to 49 were passed with machinery amendments. At clause 50 the Attorney-General moved a now section giving tho Governor power to prohibit or regulate the shooting or killing of pigeons released from any trap, box, or snmlai contrivance,' also prohibiting or legulating coursing in enclosures. Mr, Beehan said power to prohibit short coursing should not bo granted. Air. lligg stated that he had received an anonymous letter pointing out that at a recent coursing meetin" only one hare was killed. Coursillir was described in the lettei as “poor man’s sport.” Air. Rigg thought the reference to one hare being killed bore out all that had been said about coursing. Hares were raced for their lives over and over again. The new section was added on the voices. . „ , Sub-clause 4 of clause ol was amended, making the rules of Acclimatisation Societies subject ,to the approval of the Governor-in-Council. A new clause was added to the Bill giving tho Governor-in-Council power on the petition of any local authority or Acclimatisation Society to declare that weasels, stoats or other animals may bo killed within any district defined by the order,

Tho Bill was roportod with amendments. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. Tho Imprest Supply Bill was received from tho House, and put through all its stages without discussion. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NATIONAL ENDOWMENT BILL. After passing tho Imprest Supply Bill, tho Houso wont into committee on tho National Endowment Bill. Mr. Lang moved an amendment that tho short titlo bo Land Nationalisation and Leasohold Act. Mr. I-lomos, in speaking to tho amendment, said endowment had never been successful in any country. Mr. Mander said Mr. Lang had mado a somewhat vicious attempt to strangle tho Bill before it was christened, and he felt a vicious desire to assist the member for Manukau. Mr, Dillon urged that less discussion should take place. Let members go to tho vote. Mr Massey said ho could not understand tho silenco on tho other sido of tho House, and wondered why they had nothing to say about the amendment. It looked to him as if another compromise had been made, as members wore sitting tight. He contended tho Bill was not for endowment purposes, and that it was a positivo insult to ask intelligent members to believe that the Education and Old Ago Pension Departments were to benefit by tho proposals. Mr. Ell said that if these lands were settled under tho ordinary laws of tho colony, say half leasehold and half freehold, they would obtain much more revenue thereby. The Premier said he did not propose to discuss tho Bill at this stage. But he, like the member for Manukau, was desirous of obtaining a name lor tho Bill, and 0110 to their liking. However, he desired to get to clause 2, when ho would make hTs proposal 'known. .. Mr. James Allen said the Premier appeared to half like Mr. Lang s attempt, and ho suggested that the Premier should accept it„ as it the Bill was passed in its present form that was tho proper titlo for it. The Premier said there had been no arrangement of any kind botweon the Government and members of the House on the Bill. An amendment would bo proposed when lie got to tho proper clause, and though he did not expect tho Opposition members to agree to it, he thought the general body of members would do so Tho debate proceeded until 12.10 when a division was taken on tho amendment, which was rejected by 43 Mr. Massey said it was nn attempt of the Premier with a large majority to crush the minority, but tlio Oppo sition. though small, wouhl not bo crushed. Ho asserted that the Piemier had intimated to him that lie would make certain amendments to the Bill, and he contended that tho Premier should explain. After some personal explanations had been made, Mr. Massey moved to report progress, as the House did not appear in a humor to do work, and the best thing to do in tho circumstance was to go home. The Premier denied any intention to crush the Opposition, as Mr. Massey asserted. He fully intended to make known his amendment, but Mr. Laim had moved an amendment and conshmientlv tho committee had not reached clause 2, which was the pro Tier place to make the amendments known. But for this the amendments would have been beioio the House before 8.30. . Mr. Rutherford urged that they should pass the clause, and allow the Premier to introduce the amendments, and then the House should adjourn. , The motion was negatived oil tlie voices, and clause 1, the titlo clause, was passed. At clause 2, ‘‘The Crown land described in Parliamentary paper Cl2, and hereinafter called endowment land, js hereby set apart as a permanent endowment for tho purposes of education and old age pensions.” . , . , Tho Premier intimated that ho would move the following sub-clause : “In addition to Crown land described in the schedule hereto, the area of the national endowment land shall mcludo all Crown land (not being land subject to the Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900), which, on the passing of the Act or at any time thereafter is under renewable lease in accordance with the provisions of Part 11. of tho Land Laws Amendment Act, 1907, or under lease as a small grazing run under tho provisions of Part V. of the Land Act, 1892, and all such land shall he or become and shall at all times thereafter remain subject to the provisions of this Act accordingly. The Premier explained that the areas proposed in tho new amendments would he reduced, and tlio.fol]ownin' bo the areas in the various districts: Nelson 1,000,000 acres. Marlborough 330,000 acres, Westland 770,000 acres, Canterbury 1,330,000 acres, Otago 1,685,000 acres. Southland 67,000 acres. The total area would be, apart from small grazing runs, some 7.000,000 acres, of which some 5,000,000 were in the South IsMr. Massey contended that the new clause justified all the opposition that liad been offered to the Bill, and added that if anything was wanted to kill the renewable, lease it was the proposal included in tho new clause. He had thought the renewable leases would he popular, but this proposal would make them unpopular, and settlers would go in for occupation with right of purchase. He added that the nroposals were too important to bo dealt with hurriedly, and ho was opposed to dealing with them that night. , . ~ Mr. McNab explained that in addition to 7,000,000 acres, there were existing small grazing runs, and small grazing runs to come into occupation and renewablo leases would bo included under the Bill. The Premier agreed to postpone consideration of clauses 2 and 3. Clause 4, “national endowment laud to bo administered as Crown lands, except where expressly provided under this Act,” was passed unamended. . . Clause 5, “gross revenue received from national endowment land niter 31st March, 1908, shall ho paid by the Receiver of Land Revenue into tho public account to the credit ot a separate account to be called the National Endowment Account; Cb all rovenue received from endowment land on or before 31st March 1908 shall he dealt with as if the Act had not been passed.” This passed unanClause 6 provides that cost of administration of national endowment land shall bo paid out of the Endowment Account, also all sums _iww payable by law out of revenuo received from that land to any local oi public authorities. Tho clause passed unamended. , . Clause 7 provides that /0 per eeiit of national endowment money shall he applied for purposes ot education and 30 per cent, for old ago pensions. This passed unamended.. . Clauses 8, 9. 10, 11, being machinery clauses, passed unamended. Progress was reported, and tho House adjourned at 3 a.m.