PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 44, 8 October 1914, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [Per Press Association.] Wellington, October 7. The Council met at 2.30. A message was received from the House to the effect that it differed from the Council in regard to the amendment made to sub-clause 11 of clause (3 of the Licensing Amendment Act, on tire ground that if the clause were, passed in its present form it would be possible to manufacture wine without any limit of alcoholic strength. TJie Council, decided to consider the message to-morrow, and then adjourned at 2.40 p.m. HOUSE OF' REPRESENTATIVES. The, blouse, met at 2.30 p.m. On behalf of Mr Isitt, Mr McCallum presented a petition signed by 86 clergymen throughout the Dominion protesting against the passing of the Religious Instruction in Schools Bill. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. . Replying to Mr Isitt, the Premier stated it was intended to introduce legislation validating the contributions of loqal bodies made towards the Scott Memorial Fund. In reply to Sir James Carroll/ Mr .Massey said that if evidence is forthcoming of any necessity to legislate against shipping combines, the Government will give tho matter immediate consideration. In reply to Sir James, Carroll, the Premier said he had been watching the operations of the Meat Trust in this Dominion very carefully. He ventured to think that no one was better in r formed on the subject than he was, and that so soon as it was proved to him that the operations of the Trust were detrimental to the interests of the people he was to take action. At tfie same time he did not think the Trust could do harm so long as' we maintained the control of, our railways and abattoirs, hut he was, keeping a. close watfyh upon the matter. DRAINAGE BILLS. • On the. third reading of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Bill, Messrs Witty and MacDonald approved of the good work, being done, and drew attention to tl;e fact that the credit for starting the work rested with the Liberal Government. • V EVENING- SITTING. Discussion of the Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill was continued in Committee, and'the Bill was reported is amended, read a' third time, and passed. The Education Reserves Amendment Sill was put through Committee with- '. Hi 7- i ‘ 'KM* nit amendment. ANIMALS PROTECTION BILL, The Hon. Rhodes moved the second rfeading of the Animals Protection Act>, vhich gave the Government power to vcqnire land for sanctuaries. Mr Ell strongly supported the meamre, and expressed the hope that forist reserves would not be taken for .ettlemcnt purposes in any part of the Dominion. In reply to speeches, the Hon. Rhodes regretted the export of kiwi skins, but, apparently, the law was being broken. The Government had iot so far been able to acquire the balance of Kapiti Island. He agreed with the suggestion that all public domains should be declared .sanctuaries. He agreed that stoats and weasels were destroying bird life. It was advisable to protect sporting birds. The Bill was then read a second time. REMOUNTS. The Hon. Massey moved the second, reading of the Encouragement of Remounts Bill, which proposed to subsidise the owners of stallions suitable for remounts and artillery horses, the fee, for service not to be more than £2. He proposed to meet the expenditure, out the receipts from the totalisator. •After discussion, Mr Massey said that ho had ,submitted the Bill to the Agricultural Board, also to the chief veterinarian, and both thoroughly approved of the measure. Tho 'Bill.was drawn up on the lines of the methods adopted in the Old Country. The measure was meant to help the small farmer, who wanted to breed five or six foals a year. He was quite, prepared -0 increase the expenditure unfler the ’'ill.—The Bill was then read a second Mine.

The Public Bodies Leasing Bill was read a second time and the H°use rose at 12.20.