PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 13

PARLIAMENT.

gUIET PAY IN HOUSE. TWO PRIVATE BILLS. daylight baking plan, election expenditure. [BX TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. Government and private members' business was taken by the House of Representatives to-day. The proceedings lasted j until 11.50 p.m., when the House rose until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow. The whole of the afternoon was demoted to the discussion of the annual report of ihe State Forestry Department, the motion that the report be printed being talked out. In the. evening members agreed on she voices to the Daylight Baking Bill |>eing read a second time and the gpeasure was referred to the Labour Bills Committee. Debate was then commenced in Committee on the Legislature Amendment Bill (No. 2), which deals with expenditure by candidates and parties at elections. The short title of bill was defeated and later the measure was dropped. A brief sitting of the Legislative Council was held this afternoon. The War Disabilities Removal Bill and the Savings Banks Amendment Bill were read "first time./ BILL TO ALTER TAXES. DISCUSSION IN HOUSE. FIRST BUSINESS FOR TO-DAY. [Bit TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, announced in the House this evening that {he annual Taxing Bill would be taken gs the first business to-morrow. PLAY ASSOCIATION. ACTIVITIES IN AUCKLAND. QUESTION OF ACCOMMODATION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The work of the Play Association in the old Napier Street School, Auckland, was referred to by Mr. W. J. Jordan (Manukau) in the House to-day.He drew the Minister's attention to the work of the association and asked whether he would consider providing suitable accommodation, as the Napier Street School was to be pulled down. "I am aware of the work that is being done in Auckland by the Play Association in the old Napier Street School," replied the Minister of Education, Hon. R. A. Wright, "but it has been found necessary to, remove this building in order to provide additional playing space for the large number of pupils attending the school, and the work will shortly be undertaken. While such a step will interfere with the activities of the association, it is regretted the Government cannot accept the responsibility of providing other accommodation." WESTERN SAMOA'S TRADE. ADVERSE BALANCE SHOWN. IMPORTS FROM NEW ZEALAND. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. For the first time since 1922 an adverse balance in connection with the external trade of Western Samoa is revealed in the annual report for the past year of the Department of Industries and Com"merce, which has been presented to Parliament. Imports into Western Samoa in 1926 were valued at £324,940 and exports at £320,783, making .a total trade of £645.723, as'compared with £725,377.f0r the previous year-. The United Kingdom is Samoa's best customer, goods to the value of £141,000 having been sent to the Old Country in 1926." Germany took goods to the value of £78,000, the United States of America £17.000, and Australia £16,000. New Zealand bought £4OOO •worth of goods. The Dominion uses only a very small quantity of the classes of goods exported by Samoa and the, amount purchased in 1926 was made up chiefly of cocoa beans. Samoa purchased more of her requirements from New Zealand in 1926 than from any other country, and the report says it is gratifying to note that the Dominion's portion of the import trade is constantly, improving. The rubber industry is being The export of rubber ceased in 1918. The greatest quantity ever exported was in 1917, when 70 tons were shipped. Last year 23i tons, valued at £6702, were sold. RIGHTS OF MAORIS. WANGANUI RIVER CONTROL. PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The rights of Maoris in the Wanganui River are raised in a petition which was presented to Parliament ,by Sir -Maui Pomare on behalf of Piki Koturu and 125 others. The petitioners ask that a special commission be set up to "inquire into and grant" an application for £300,000 by way of compensation in respect to what the petitioners call their special rights in the Wanganui River and its tributaries. They assert tho company plying steamers on the river has obtained a considerable amount of money from this source and they contend persons owning land touching the waters of the river should receive payment from the company for the use of the river. They also state their eel, lamprey and other weirs, from which their ancestors and elders obtained a livelihood, and which were handed do\vn to them, had been destroyed since the steamers had had the use of the river. The petitioners suggest that portions of the fishing licence fees obtained from those who fish for trout in certain of the tributaries of the Wanganui River should be paid to those persons who have interests in those streams. The trout, they say. has killed a number of fish which the petitioners used for food Another ground of the petition is that land on the banks of the Wanganui River has been taken for scenic purposes. Consequently, it is claimed.-that the owners of this land should be paid compensation as the land Alas been practically confiscated. LICENSING BILL. NOT COPYING NEXT WEEK. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, stated in the House this evening that the Licensing Bill would not' be in next week s legislatien to come before the House.