PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17935, 31 July 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 30. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Imprest Supply Bill (No. 2) was received from the House and put through all stages and pas§pd. Consideration of the Gaming Amendment. ir committee was continued. 'l’he Hon. Alison withdrew his amendment in favour of a double’ totalisator. » Hon. Izard moved an amendment to provide that all investments on the to-ta-lisator be in cash and no cheques be accepted. The division was 15 to 15, and the amendment was lost on the casting vote of the Chairman of Committees. Sir F I). Bell, according to promise, proposed an amendment to widen the definition of a bookmaker by adding “or who in any manner holds himself out or permits himself to be held out as a person with whom wagers or bets may bo made oi who offers to v ager on any particular event or class of events with more than one person.” This was adopted and the Bill put through the final stages and passed. The Council rose at 3.20 p.m. HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. i The House met at 2.30. Replying to Mr Burnett, the Hon. Nosworthy said experiment's were being made by the Agricultural Department, with a view to discovering whether or not there is a mor.?, efficacious rabbit poison than phosphorised pollard. Replying to Mr Young, Mr Massey said he had been advised by Mr Vickerinan. of the Public Works Department, that it would not bo advisa-ble to purchase some of the light railway material used in France during t’he war at the price asked. Mr Vickerman said it would be betfer to purchase new material . Replying to Mr Poland. Mr Guthrie denied that- any political influence had been used in connection with the selection of settlers for the Reparoa soldiers* settlement. ♦ Replying to Mr Harris, Mr Massey said ho did not expect the compulsory classes of the next loan Bill would have to l»e put into operation because the Government would offer a fair rate of interest. The financial position of t’he Dominion was as good as any other country in the Empire, and he did not anticipate any difficulty in raising the money which was mostly required on soldiers’ settlement. Hp did not expect the money to be required before November next.

NOT PATRIOTS. Replying to Mr Potter, Mr Massey said he had not seen a paragraph in a paper intimating that a Association intended to circularise fifty [leading papers in England drawing at- ■ rent ion to the ’housing shortage in New Zealand, but he thought the time had I arrived when steps should be taken to j stop the utterances of a certain unnatri- ' otic section of the community. This [ statement raised a protest; from the Labour ranks, but Mr Massey, continuing, | said t’here was no part of the Empire ! in which a steady, industrious people could do better than in New Zealand, and he resented attempts to depreciate the Dominion in the eyes of the British public. WESTPORT HARBOUR. The AVestport Harbour Board Anolv tion Bill was introduced by Governor’s message. Air Massey said the fact was that the finances of this Board had been for a long time most unsatisfactory. The harbour was easily the most important coal harbour in ’the Dominion, and it required development in a way the Board could not enter upon. The Government j)rop.>sed to take the harbour over and work it as it ought to be worked. Air Holland said the. whole of the Harbour Board's financial troubles arose because the Government had interfered w ith the Board’s endowment. He would oppose the Bill at every stage, because if the Government could seize this harbour. who could say where they would stop ? Amendments to the Native Trustee Bill were brought down by Governor’s message lind referred to the Native Affairs Committee. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time : Waimakarin Harbour District Empowering and Amendment (Jones). Native Land Act, 1909. Amendment Bill (Wilford). External Affairs Amendment Bill (Hon. Lee), Gaming Amendment Bill (No. 2) (Hunter), Shops and Offices Amendment Bill (No. 2) (McCombs). PRISONERS RIGHT OF APPEAL. Hon. Lee moved the second reading of the (Times Amendment Bili, which he explained proposed to give right of appeal against sentences passed on criminals by the Supreme Court. When this l right of appeal is availed of the Court! bearing the appeal has the right to in- | crease the sentence as well as reduce it. The second part of the Bill extended the powers of.the Prisons Board. Air McCallum objected to the clause empowering Judges of the appeal to indi’ease sentences, wjiich he characterised as “ unsportsmanlike.” Air Fraser gave genera] support’ to the measure, but stressed the importance of a clause providing that prisoners may be. employed usefully and paid some wages for the benefit of their dependents who suffered more than the criminal himself. This reform was an outstanding need. Air Isitt also supported the Bill, winch was read a second time on the voices.