PARLIAMENT.

North Otago Times, 3 September 1910, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Per Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 1. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Sept. 2. The Council met at 2.30. —lndecent Publications Bill.— The Indecent. Publications Bill was committed. At clause 3 the Attorney-General moved the omission of the word "knowingly" in the sub-sections relating to sending or delivering or causing to be delivered any indecent document. The object was, he explained, to remove the necessity of proving guilty knowledge of so sending or delivoring. The amendment was agreed to. Clause 13 was amended by removing the initiative of a prosecution from the police, and providing that '. no prosecution shall be commenced except with the leave of the Attorn-ey-Generral. The Bill was reported as amended. -Phosphorus matches.The second reading of the Phosphorus Matches Bill, from the House, was agreed to after 'a brief discussion. ' -Bills.The Companies Amendment and the Exhibitions Bill were read a second time after a short discussion. The Council rose. I 1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, s The House met at 2.30. } -Petitions Committee.i The Public Petitions Committee on L the petition of the boarding house- - keepers of Tearoha, praying that 3 they be placed on a similar footing to hotel keepers in regard to defaults ) ing boarders, reported to .theeffect - that the matter be referred to the - Government for' consideration. 3 Sir, Joseph Ward said the matter 1 opened!. up an important ques&fg. ■ People might leave their luggige • behind at boardjinghouses, and find j s it disposed of in a few days. He M > moved that the matter be referred V > back to the' Committee. i > The motion was agreed to, t —The Revenue.— , The Premier read the following statement of revenue for the five months ended 3lst August 1910, compared with the corresponding 'five months: Customs—l3lo £1,146,852 . 1909 £993,547, increase £153,305; , stamps (Stamp Department) £283,084 r and £415,989; stamps (Post and Te- , legraph Department) £214,783, an in--3 crease in the Stamp Department of . £81,878;' Post and Telegraph cash . receipts, £78,150 and £69,115, an in- ■ creaee of £9035; Land and Income Tax £20,331 and £24,263. increase . £1968; beer duty £41,927 and £41,134 j an increase of £793; railways r £1,209,231 and £1,169,808, increase ; £99,423; registration and'other feos ( £29,720 and £32,811, a decrease of , £3091; marine £16,743 and £16,694, increase £49 ; miscellaneous £118,771 and £113,069, increase £5702; territorial £87,182 and £66,455, increase £20,727; total amount of revenue £3,212,674 and £2,942,885, an increase , of £372,880, less the decrease in registration and other 'fees of £3091, making a net increase for the five months of £369,789. -Land Bill.— . Replying to Mr Massey, Sir Joseph' , Ward said the Land Bill would he brought down this evening by Governor's message, or on Wednesday next, probably: the latter date. -Rivers Board Bill.— The second reading of the Rivers Board Amendment Bill was moved ;■ by Mr. Buddo, who also explained that the object of the Bill was to empower river Boards to purchase lands liable to be injuriously' affected by river works. The powers conferred under the Bill had been asked for by river boards, The second reading was carried on the voices. -Animals Protection.— The second reading of the Animals Protection Bill was moved by Mr Buddo. The Bill provides for the abolition of cylinder shooting of ducks, the protection of the godwit, and the removal of a number of anomalies in the principal Act restricting the importations of animals. The House rose at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. The debate on the second reading of the Animals Protection Bill \was resumed, the general view being that '■ native,Mrd-Hfe shouM ie protected to a greater extent than at present ? and that more sancturies shSuld 'be provided. Mr T. M'Kenzie suggested that scenic reserves should be used as. sanctuaries for the natural fauna of the Dominion. Mr Buddo, in his reply, Bald ""£} w,as glad to see so much interest Jr' ; the preservation of bird life. There! • was considerable difficulty in carry-' • ing out the law that every third year should be a close season, as when it came round acclimatisation, societies asked for aa open season. He 1 hoped when the next close season came round public opinion would be in favor of the law being observed. The second reading was agreed to. -Native Townships,— Mr Carroll moved the second reading of the Native Townships MY. The Bill is intended to make better provision with respect to the disposition of land in native townships, which js to be vested in the -..'...' Maori Land Board, with power to lease the same; with a perpetual ' right of renewal after every 21 years. Power is. given under the bill fop the purchase of land in townships by the Crown. The Bill repeals, the Aqt and amendment Acts 'dealing ~;,.. with native townships, and aims at . , t: accelerating settlement in native '■'-..■:..•:■■';: townships 'by 'vesting.-'the • sole con-■■.. ■ ;,,':■, trql of. lands, in. Boards, Improving ;.,.vv;r the -system of leasing; arid -giving the ■ -;y^ : ■rlKht. , ;:;; ; Mr,Herrießisaid;,th«.Bili was -im^^^M

sblidating one, ,and contained no.new principle except the bnngiug of the Maori Land Board under the provision of the / Lands for Leasing Act, while provision ia made for the granting of a Glasgow lease by tl\c Maori Land Board, font this was not compulsory. He hoped that in the commit, tee stage a' clause would be inserted giving the lessees power to purchase from the lessors. This was the only way in which native townships could be made successful. No provision was made in the Bill for the future townships, such as might arise were gold discovered there. Mr Massey said the bill would elfect a considerable improvement on the present state of affairs. Mr Kaihau opposed the Bill. Mr Ngata said Mr Kaihali was laboring under a misapprehension. Mr Carroll replied, and the second reading was agreed to. The House rose at 2 a.m.