POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1870, 27 September 1906, Page 3

POLITICAL.

A STONEWALL,

TRUSS ASSOCIATION Wellington, Ia st night. Tho discussion in committee on Mr Horcsby’a Q.iaokorios and Other Frauds Prevention Bill resolved itself into a stonewall, with tho object of blocking Mr Tanner’s Limitation of roialisator Per tu ts Bill. Messrs Wilford and Symes in particular hid a good deal to say about the Bill. Beginning with tho title, from whioh ho proposed to doleto tho words ‘ the quackery and ’’ Mr Wilford was as times amusing, as was also Mr Turn Mackorzio, but generally tho “stonewall” was of »u uninteresting nature. By 11 p.m. it became evident that Mr Hornsby had not tho slightest ohaneo uf getting his BP through, and shortly afterwards pro grtsr w \s reported, and the Houso rose.

SUPPRESSION OF TOHUNGAS, Thu Na ice Minister give notioo to day if the uitroduet on of a Tohunga Sup prjiSiou Bill. The objeot of tho Bill, wh'oh is a measure of one olause, is to prevent a continuance of tho rooont prnc tiers of toburgaiiin. Mr Carroll states that ho realises tho difficulty of giving a statutory djfiuitiou of tobungaism, but he is hopeful that his measure will havo a

good effort I. will aim at stopping tho calling of large bodios of natives together for tho purpose of playing on their ciedulity and superstition. It will also deal with tho practice of professing to be able to euro disoaso with spiritual agencies, Power will be given to Magistrates to detormiuo whatever gatherings tire being held in contravention of the Aot. The penalties provided are a fine of £lO for tho fi; s', and a term of imprisonment for tho seoond offence. GOVERNMENT LAND VALUATION Sptakmg in tho Legislative Council today on tho second reading of tho Govern meat Valuation of Laud Aot Amendment Bill, the Hon. E. C. Stevens sail the present system oould not bo worse. Ho looked forward tj tho time when some other officer, not tho Stipendiary Magistrate, would bo appointed to deal with tbo assessment. A magistrat) bad plenty of wotk to do, and was in the habit of judging merely on the ovidenoe brought before him. So long as there wore plenty of witnesses breught forward by the Department it was praotioally hopeless for tho unfortunate taxpayer to expect any relief at all Toat was his experience, and it was very largo both in town and country, The Bill would be welcomed as an important instalment of an improvement, whioh it was to bo hoped would take plaoe in tbo future.