PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16573, 4 November 1921, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

(Abridged from Press Association.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Council met at 2.30 p.m. and passed the Hunter Gift for Settlement of Discharged Soldiers Bill through all stages.

HOUSE QF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. . BILLS. : , The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill were received. The Hon G. J. Anderson explained that the amendments were intended to make more definite the authority of 'the Court during the time Mr. Reardon occupied a seat on the Court. The amendments were agreed to. Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Hunter Gift Bill were received and agreed to. Air Reed moved the second reading of the Land Act Amendment Bill, which, he said, was intended to ensure that receipts from Crown timber and flax royalties should be paid to local authorities. The speaker said the Bill appeared to arrange for the disposal of Crown revenue an<J was an Appropriation Bill, and therefore out of order. COOK ISLANDS. The Hon Dr Pomare moved the second reading of the Cook Islands Act Amendment Bill, providing that there should be one European representative on the Native Council. Other clauses provided for better government of the islands, including amendment of the divorce laws, and were based on experience of past administration. Clause 12 was important inasmuch as it imposed total prohibition of liquor throughout the islands. This was to some extent the complement of granting European representation on the Native Council, as the natives had stipulated that it should be one of the conditions that natives and Europeans should be placed on the same level in regard to the use of liquor. Liquor could be obtained under medical orders. Mr Wilford generally approved of the Bill. Air Howard criticised the practice of

bringing native prisoners from the islands to Auckland in winter. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. EVENING SITTING. •On resuming at 7.30 the House went into Committee of Ways and Aleans. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Air Alassey as -Minister of Finance delivered the annual Budget. The reading of the Statement concluded amidst applause at 9.10 p.m. The House then proceeded to consider the resolutions necessary to effect revision of the Customs tariff. The resolutions were agreed to and reported to the House. The House rose at 9.25 p.m.