PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14322, 12 October 1910, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct, 11. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE SHOOTING SEASON. On the motion of Mr Buddo, amendments to the Animals Protection Bill, made in Committee, were agreed to. Considerable discussion ensued on the motion i'ur the tliird reading of the Bdl, in which speakers advocated protection for all kinds of birds, and the declaration of scenic reserves as sanctuaries for fauna. Various other suggestions in favour of the preservation and protection 01 wild animal life wero made.

Mr Buddo said lie was glad to find so general ail opinion in lavour of ilie protection of wild lite. He approved of tiie suggestion that scenic reserves should be declared sanctuaries for birds. He proposed to follow the example of South Australia, and issue a, circular containing the names of all native, birds protected bv Act. for the information of schoolboys. Teachers could assist, in disseminating a knowledge of and respect for wdd life. The Bill was read a third time and passed. CRIMES BILL. Air MiLiar moved that tke amendments made in Committee in the Crimes Bill be agreed to. Mr Wilford moved that the Bill he recommitted for reconsideration of clause 4, providing that a. summary conviction may include a reformative detention. He said the clause was unworkable, and if passed it wooild make the country ring with cries of injustice.

Mr Herries and Mr .Herdman concurred in the proposition. After further discussion, during which Mr Millar said he would be prepared to recommit the Bill with the object of amending clause 4a, so as to make it perfectly clear that the right of appeal was given to prisoners sentenced to reformative detention The amendment was lost by 32 to 30.

On the motion of Sir J. G. Ward the Bill was then recommitted, to reuonsider clause 4a, relating to the right of appeal, aiul progress was immediately reported, to enable a new clause to be drafted. •NATIVE TOWNSHIPS. A number of amendments toi the Native Townships Bill were introduced by Governor s Message. These pro-, vide for land acquired by the Crown being disposed of by the Governor-iii-Couucil, in accordance with regulations, and that land ill a native t-ownsliip may be sold to private persons by the Maori Land Board.

Mr Taylor (Christ-church) regarded the amendments as facilitating free trade in Maori lands, which he deprecated.

Mr Carroll said lie agreed on broad lines with Air Taylor, but every precaution liad been taken to prevent natives dispossessing themselves entirely of their land. He asked the committee to pass the amendments as they stood.

A motion by Mr Herries that the Bill l>e recommitted in order to reconsider clause 19, providing that lands in native townships may be sold to the Crown, was carried by 48 to 12. In committee an amendment to clause 19, proposed by the Minister, providing that land in a native township may also be sold to persons other than the Crown, was negatived on the voices.

• A new clause, 21, providing for land acquired by the Crown being disposed of by regulation was carried. Clause 21b, providing that a .Maori Land Board may, with precedent consent of beneficial owners or trustees, sell land in a native township to private persons, was proposed by the Native Minister.

Mr Hogg moved an amendment in the direction of abolishing sale by private contract, which was rejected bv 3J to 20.

The House rose at 5.30 p.m. On resuming in the evening Mr Herries moved that sub-clause 4 < f clause 21b, providing that no sale shall be valid unless consented to by ;he Gcvornor-in-Council, be deleted. Air Jennings opposed the amendment on the ground that he was -opposed to undue land speculation. There was at present a gang of speculators engaged in exploiting the KinoCountry. ° Messrs. Poole, Luke and ltoss also opposed the amendment for. similar rtvsci-s.

Mr Fraser pointed out that the .Bill only referred to townships, and did not deal with the acquisition of largo areas by syndicates. After further discussion the amend-m-jivo was put and rejected by 41 to 23, and then reported with amendments. and on the House resuming the amendments wero agreed 10. Oil the motion for the third reading M>- Herries congratulated the Government on the change of front shown in bringing down amendments pro-tiding for the salo of the freehold. He trusted the Bill would operate for ■ the benefit of those who were interested i>i it. Sir J. G. Ward said the Government .had not altered its policy. ■ The Native Minister had previously indicated that he was prepared to consider the amendments which had just been carried. The credit for initiating the amendments was duo to Mr Jennings, who had been moving in that direction for soveral years. The debato was continued at considerable length, and the Bill was then read a third time and passed. CHIMES BILL. , , T ''" House went into committee on the Crimes Amendment Bill, to reconSidcr clause 4a,

Milkn* moved that the clause bo amended to read ns follows:—" Every person sentenced by a Magistrate to a period of reformative detention may •nfc any trim© within 14 days apply ex •parto to a Judge of the Supreme Court

to review»'the sentence, on? tlioi'gTonn'd that the same is excessive, of 1 , ought not to have been passed, and such Judge may thereupon either uphold or reverse such sentence. Nothing: 3n this section is to aifect any right of appeal against convictions in respect of which sentences of reformative detention are passed. The Governor in Council may, with the concurrence of any two Judges of the Supreme Court, make rules governing the procedure in such appeals. The clause was inserted, and the Bill read a third time and passed. STONE QUARRIES BILL.

The Minister of Public "Works moved that the amendments made in committee to the Stone Quarries Bill be agreed to. Mr Witty moved that the Bill Le recommitted for the purpose of striking out the proviso to clause 2, vnicii exempts from the scope of the Bill quarries used by local bodies for «.b----taining stone for use oil public roj-cis. The amendment was carried uy 42 to 18, and tho Bill was reonmmJtted. Mr Witty mmcd to strike nut tlm proviso to clause 25, and on a division the motiou was carried by 3SJ to IS. A motion by Mr MeLnren amending clause 8, by including—under workmen obeying orders or directions—a subclause making it a good defence to ally proceedings for non-compliance with rules, to prove tliat every precaution had been taken to prevent contravention, was inserted. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE. The J-louse went into committee on the Land Settlement Finance Sir J. G. Ward moved to add new clauses making it unlawful for any person to hold more than ono allotment, otherwise than as a mortgagee), i-r.d providing for a statutory declaration, by each party to an agreement, containing full details of the purchase money and the terms and conditions of the sale. These and a further new clauso_ providing for the expenses cf administration, were added. Mr Keid moved to add a clause providing for native lands being included in the scope of the Bill. The Minister could not accent the amendment, which was lost on the voices. The Bill was reported with amendments. QUESTIONS. Ministers, replying to questions tabled for to-morrow, stated that, in legard to short Govern merit reseive leases, the whole question of dealing with public reseri'o leases was under consideration. That the matter of establishing a State uniform factory was kept in view, a considerable time must elapse before it can be seriously considered. That- it is expected that the Cass section of the Midland Railway will be open for traffio about the 'end of next month.

I hat the polioy of the Government is to encourage and assist practical farmr'Vi'r? I '"'' 1 ' emigrate from the mi 1 rv'ugdom tortile Dominion. That the suggestion of allowing inspectors of orchards to spray fruit trees of persons requiring it will be given effoc-t to if found practicable. Lhe House adjourned till 7.30 on Wednesday, and rose at 12.50 a.m.