THE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1587, 2 November 1912, Page 6

THE COUNCIL.

JOSHUA JONES'S CLAIMS. : : The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. . , The report of the .Joshua Jones Claims Committee was laid "oh the table.- , On the motion of the Hon. H. D. Bell, that'the report .be taken as read, The Hon. JOHN RIGG objected. This Teport,'ho'said, would be, the last word in regard tea question which had'occupied the attention bf the Legislature for 'years past, and there would'be no.neces* sity, he considered, for any further, inquiry in the part of tho Government. The Hon. H. D. Bell: Very well; then; If there isany objection, let it be read. The roport (a summary of which is-pub-lished in another column)..was then read, arid laid on the table without discuss'ibn. " THE LAND BILL. • The Land .'Act Amendment Bill.was further considered in Committee, and certain machinery amendments agreed to. Progress was then reported, and pn the motion of the Hon. H.'D. Bell, the Bill was set downjor its third reading on next sitting day. .''•■■'.. ' ' ; DEFENCE AMENDMENT BILL, , The Defence Act Amendmont Bill was reported with certain amendments by his Excellency the 'Governbr. The amendments.make provision,for the sale of drillsheds, rifle ranges, or.land vested,in the Crown for military.purposes', and set but' the manner in which the.proceeds may be disposed of.-•■ - "•• The amendments were concurred- with.; AMENDED BILLS. ~ Tho CenieteriesVAmendment Bill, and the Aged and s Infirm Persons'- Protection Bill, which originated in the Council, ■were repbrted with amendments from the House of representatives., ■ ■ • In the former, and in the. clause prbvid-' ing for the setting aside'bf private burial grounds, the qualification of ownership qf the land concerned "in fee. simplo and i free from encumbrance," the clause now providing that tho Governor may declare.any parcel of land "wherein the body of any deceased person has been I buried prior to the commencement of this Act," to be a private burial ground,' subject to certain provisions. ■ In the Aged and Infirm Persons' Protection Bill the only substantial amendment was the introductibn of a supplementary clause which, in effect, classified the subjects of the Court's protection in two sections— persons incapacitated from managing their affairs by reason of their being addicted to the excessive use of intoxicat-, ing liquors, and those incapacitated by age, disease, illness,.or physical Or mental infirmity.', "■.' • . The amendments were, agreed to. .'. NATIVE LAND.BILL. I The Native Land Act Amendment ..Bill. was received from the; Houso'of Ecpresentatives and read a first' time. . On the motion of tho Hon. H. D. Bell the Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. ■ ■