PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 22447, 18 September 1936, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

FISHERIES AMENDMENT LEGAL ANOMALIES REMOVED [P«k United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 17. ' The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Christie gave notice of his intention to introduce the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Amendment Bill; Mr Barclay to introduce the Bay of Islands Harbour Amendment Bill; Mr Anderton to introduce the Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill. Mr Munro was granted two days’ leave of .absence on account of a bereavement in his family, and Mr Roy three days on account of illness. Mr Fraser moved the second reading of the Fisheries Amendment Bill, and said the Bill was aimed to assist the fishermen of the Dominion by providing that research work should be undertaken. The fee for fishing licenses, except in Rotorua, would be fixed by Order in Council, and it was suggested that the fee should be increased from £1 to 255. and, of the increase half a crown would go to the acclimatisation societies and half a crown to freshwater fish research. Mr Coates asked what was meant by the mystic word “ research.” He did not like an amendment of the sort proposed, and thought the Minister should have fixed definitely the fee to be charged, not have left it to Order in Council. Mr Endean thought the Government should follow Australia’s example _ and get an _ overseas expert to investigate the position. Mr Bodkin thought that the Minister should do more than merely co-operate with the acclimatisation societies. A complete review of fishing in the Dominion should be made, and the Minister should make a full statement. He contended that not enough attention was paid to southern rivers. Mr Hamilton said that the increase was not out of the way, but he hoped the £1,250 it would yield would be spent regularly every year. The Bill was put through all stages and passed. Mr Mason moved the committal of the Law Reform Bill, which he said sought to modify certain rules of law. Recently an influential committee in England, under the chairmanship of the Master of Rolls, had reported on certain points of law. and the Bill was built on the report of that committee. "At present, in an accident involving a motor vehicle, if the wrongdoer was killed the injured person had no remedy, -and the Bill would alter that. The Bill also gave the mother of an illegitimate child certain rights she did not at present possess. Again, at present claims for damages where death occurred could not include funeral expenses. That would be remedied under the Bill. A number of curious old laws regarding the property of married women and the liability of husbands were removed. He thanked the legal profession, the legal members of the House, and the Statutes Revision Committe for the help they had given him in framing the Bill. The Bill received general support, particularly from the legal members of the House. The motion for committal was carried, and the House went into committee. Several technical amendments were made to the Bill, which was reported to the House with the amendments, read a third time, and passed. The Nelson Diocesan Trust Board Empowering Bill, the Auckland City Abattoir Bill, and the Nelson Waterworks Extension Amendment Bill were put through all stages and passed. The House rose at 9.35 p.m, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WELLINGTON, September 17. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Tributes were paid to the memory of the Hon. R. Moore, and a motion of sympathy with the relatives was earned. The Council adjourned for one hour as a mark of respect to Mr Moore’s memory. When the Council reassembled the Hon. B. C. Robbins moved the second reading of the Whakatane Paper Mills Limited, Water Supply Empowering Bill. He said that if the second reading were carried it would not prevent the_ Council from thoroughly investigating the proposals. The Leader of the Council (the Hon. M. Fagan) made a statement setting out the Government’s attitude. Hon. R. Masters said that any inquiry should embrace not only the Whakatane Company, but similar companies. Mr Fagan said that an inquiry would be made at an early date. Hon. W. H. MTntyre asked why this particular company should have its - affairs investigated. Was there any suggestion that it was connected with the M‘Arthur Trust or something similar. The Bill was read a. second time, and referred to a Select Committee, The Council adjourned at 4.40 p.m.