PARLIAMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 291, 3 September 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association). LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Friday. At the afternoon sitting the Indecent Publications Bill was committed at clause 3. The Attorney-General moved the omission of the word "knowingly" in the sub-sections relating to the sending or delivering or causing to bo sent or delivered any indecent document. The object was, he explained, to remove the necessity of proving guilty knowledge of so sending or delivering. The amendment was agreed to. Clause 13 was amended by removing the initiative of prosecution from tho police and providing that no prosecution shall bo commenced except with the leave of the Attorney-General. The Bill was reported as amended. The second reading of the Phosphorous Match Bill, from the Lower House, was agreed to. After a brief discussion tho Company's Amendment Bill was put through committee without amendment. Tho Exhibitions Bill was read a second time after a short discussion. The Council then rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.H0 p.m. The Public Petitions Committee, on tho petition of the boardinghousekeepers of Te Aroha praying that they be placed on a similar footing to tho hotelkeepers in regard to defaulting boarders, passed a resolution to tho effect that the matter be referred to the Government lor consideration. Sir Joseph Ward said the matter opened up an important question. People might leave their luggage behind at boardinghouses and find it disposed of in a few days, lie moved that the matter be referred back to tho Committee for further consideration. The motion was agreed to.

FIVE MONTHS' REVENUE. The Premier read the following statement of revenue for five months: —Customs, 1910, £1,14(5,852—1909, £993,547, increase £153,805; stamps (Stamp Department), £283,084—£415, 989; stambs (Post and Telegraph Department), £214,783, increase Stamp Depatrment £81,878; Post and Telegraph cash receipts, £78,150 —£69,115, increase £9053; Land and Income Tax, £26,231 £1908; beer duty, £41,927 £41,134, increase £793; railways, £1,269,231 £1,169,808, increase £99,423; registration and other fees, £297,20—£32,811, decrease £3031; marine, £167,43 —£16,694, increase £49; miscellaneous £118,771 £5702; territorial, £871,82—£66,455, increase £20,727; total amount of revenue, £3,312,674—£2,942,885, increase £372,880, less decrease registration and other fees (£3091) making the net increase for the five months of £369,789.

Replying to Mr Massey, Sir Joseph Ward said the Land Bill will bo brought down that evening by Governor's message, or on Wednesday next, probably the latter date. The second reading of the Rivers Board Amendment Bill was moved by the Hon. Buddo, who explained the object of the Bill, which was to empower river boards to purchase lands liable to be injuriously ail'ected by river works. The powers conferred under the Bill had been asked for by river boards. The second reading was carried on the voices. The second reading of the Animals Protection Bill was moved by Hon. Buddo. The Bill provides for the abolition of cylinder shooting of ducks, the protection of godwit, and the removal of a number of anomalies in the principal Act restricting the importation of animals. EVENING SITTING. The debate on the second reading of the Animal:? Protection Bill was continued, the general view being that it was essential to further protect bird life. The second reading was argcod to. Hon. J. Carroll moved the second reading of the Native Townships Bill, which i 3 intended to make better provision with respect to the ownership and disposition of land in native townships. After a lengthy discussion tho Bill was read a second time The House ro3c at 2 a.m.