HOUSE IN SESSION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17130, 4 September 1926, Page 16

HOUSE IN SESSION

GAMING LAW AMENDMENT.

POLITELY SLAUGHTERED,

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day

In the House last night, the Swam]) Drainage Act, 1015 Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General's message, read a first time and referred to the Lands Committee. The House then went into committee on the Native Trustee Amendment Bill and on thy Maori Arts and Crafts Bill. Explaining the former Bill the Prime Minister said it closely followed the present law as it applied to the Public Trustee. With regard to the second measure it had been decided to encourage the cultivation of the fast-disappearing Maori arts and crafts, some of which it was intended to embody in some of our public buildings. The House also went into committee on the Native Land Amendment Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill which ratified the arrangement; made between the Government and the Tuwharetoa tribe, regarding the fishing rights at Taupo, under which Taupo is lobe vested in His Majesty the King. This arrangement was attacked by Mr. A. M. Samuel, who declared thai, if it satisfied the Tnwluvrolou tribe, it was extremely unsatisfactory to the fishermen who patronised the waters of: Taupo. Sir Maui I'omare defended the agreement, which, was nothing but a raw sonable protection to the Tuwharotoa tribe, whose generous gift to the State of a national park entitled them to every consideration. All three Native Bills were passed through the committee stage. In the Native Land Amendment Bill Mr. Samuel moved to fix a fee for an. annual fishing license at Taupo for permanent residents of New Zealand, at a sum not exceeding £l. On a division the amendment was lost by 42 votes to L").

The Gaming Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the A to L Committee, the Premier indicating that this was a polite way of slaughtering it.