NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14783, 13 October 1921, Page 5

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

POLITICAL JOTTINGS. (From Our Correspondent.) PARLIAMENT BLDGS. Oct. 12. Mr Massey wa.s expected to make his promised statement regarding the work of the Imperial Conference, and other matters that engaged his attention in London today. Ho postponed his remarks in order that ho might have time to prepare certain papers. The House, therefore, reached private member’s bills early in the afternoon, and spent tho rest of the day upon them. NATIVE LAND. The first was Mr. V. Reed’s Native Land Amendment Bill, which proposes that if native land is fenoad and Occupied, and if the nativo owner neglects Ho pay rates, tho local authorities, after twelve months, may distrain upon any stock depasturing on the land. Tt also proposes that European pur chasers or lessees of native land shall be liable to pay a share of tho cost of any boundary fence or drain, of which the native owner did not pay his share. Mr. Reed argued that this Bill did no injustice to the natives, and was a reasonable concession to local bodies and white /settlers. It was referred to the Native Affairs Committee. NEW MEASURES. Four new Government Bills were introduced in the House. The most important of them, the Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill and the Cook Islands Amendments Bill, have not yet been circulated. Private members’ bills occupied the House during part of the afternoon and evening. SAMOAN GROUP. The Samoa Bill was taken in committee. Labour members opposed the bill, and some Opposition members had suggestions for amendments. The Minister agreed to refer portions of the Bill to the Native Affairs Committee for consideration in order that the interests of the Samoan natives might be guarded. The Bill is largely identical in terms with the Samoan Order in Council, under which the administration is proceeding at the present time. DIVORCE. x Mr Massey remarked, when a clause regarding divorce was under discussion, that New Zealand’s divorce laws i required ' consideration._ '“We went too far last year,” he said. “We will have to re-eonsider the divorce laws of this