PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16805, 31 July 1920, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

FRIDAY’S PROCEEDINGS. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. METHODS OF MARRIAGE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 30. Tho Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. ’ Tho Imprest Supply Bill (No. 2) was received from tho Houso and put through all stages and passed. _ The Statutes Revision Committee reported the Marriage Amendment Bill with minor amendments. Sir Francis Bell moved that it bo referred bac-c. His reason for doing so was that evidence was laid before the committee, .which suggested that one denomination in the country declared publicly by official documents that marriages contracted and performed according to tho law of tho land was invalid. It was further stated that parties wore required to go through a second form of marriage, .and that at this second marriage they were described as bachelor and spinster. He said, as a member of the Government,, that if this was found to be tho practice in New Zealand, and that children of' an existing marriage lawfully celebrated was were bastardised, either directly or by inference, it would rest upon the Government to see that this state cCf things did not continue. He made this statement publicly, so that those concerned might come before the committee and state their side of the case. Tho Bill was referred hack. The Council rose at 3.20 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. LIGHT RAILWAY MATERIAL. Tho House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. Young,. Sir. Massey said ho had- been advised by Mr. Vickorman, of the Public Works Department, that it would not bo advisable to purchase some of tho light railway material used in Franco during tho war at the price asked. Mr. Viekorman said it would ijc belter to purchase new material. SOLDIER SELECTORS. Replying to Mr. Poland, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie denied that any political influence had boon used in connection with tho selection of settlors for the Reparoa soldiers’ settlement. WESTPORT HARBOUR. The Westport Harbour Board Abolition Bill was introduced by Governor’s message.

Mr. Massey said tho fact was that the finances of this board had been for a long time most unsatisfactory. Tho harbour was easily tho most important coal harbour of the Dominion! and it required development in a way the beard could not enter upon. The Government proposed to take theUTarbouv over and work it as it ought 'to be worked. Mr. Holland said tho whole of tho harbour board’s financial troubles arose because tho Government had interfered with the board’s endowment. Ho would oppose the Bill at every stage, because if the Government could seize this harbour. who could say where they would slop? NEW BILLS. Amendments to the Native Trustee Pill were brought down by Governor's message and referred to tho Native Af- ! fairs Committee. [ j The following Bills were introduced I and read a first time ;• —Waimakariri | Harbour District Empowering and 1 Amendment Bill (Mr, Jones); Native Land Act, 1909, Amendment Bill (Mr. A\ilford); External Affairs Amendment I Bill (Hon. E. P. Lee), Gaming Act Amendment Bill, No. 2, (Mr. Hunter':; Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, No. 2, (Mr. M'Combs). » APPEAL BY CRIMINALS. The Hon. E. P. Lee moved the second rending of the Crimes Amendment Bill, which, he explained, proposed to give the right of appeal against sentences passed on criminals by the Supremo Court. When this right of appeal was availed of, the court hearing the appeal would have a right to increase the sentence as well as to reduce it. The second part of the Bill extended tho powers of the Prisons Board. Mr. M‘ Callum objected to a danse empowering Judges of Appeal to increase sentences, which he characterised as “unsportsmanlike.” Mr. Fraser gave general support to the measure, but stressed the importance of a clause jiroviding that’ prisoners might be. employed usefully and paid some wages for the benefit of their dependents, who suffered more than the criminal himself. Tho Bill was read a second time on tho voices.