PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 20 July 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

FRIDAY, 18th JULY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association). Wellington, Julv 19. The House met at 2.30. The amendments to the PURE FOOD and PUBLIC TRUST AMENDMENT BILLS were agreed to and read a third time, and passed. The ROTOItUA TOWN BILL, which proposes that the management of the town of Rotorua be vested in the Tourist and Health Department, was committed. Clause 3 provided that the management of the town should be managed by the general manager of the Tourist Department, but on the motion of the Premier, (lie words '■general manager" were struck out, so as to leave the'managemen! iu the hands of the Department generally.

| Another amendment was made providing for the .Act coming into operation on September Ist of (his year.

The Bill was then reported with amendments.

I 111 introducing tin- second reading of [Hi--- 'i'OMI'XCA NI'I'J'KICSSION |s|U,, the Minister said toliungas were opposed to civili.-iiift influence, and tended to create notoriety for themselves. They adopted ii hostile attitude towards law's making fur tin- jmldie interests, 'and also li.v advice given to their followers invited Hhcin to resist laws brought into vogue for the advancement of civilisation. The result of toliungas' inlluenccs had been that many .Maoris had forsaken their cultivations and had withdrawn (heir children from sehools, and al)andoned tlieniselves to the whims and caprices of some toliungas prominent in their locality. The .Minister referred to Kua, who had made himself more notorious than Ids fcilow-professors. The Maoris were easily taken in. and almndant evidence could he obtained to show conclusively the eli'eets of, the teachings of toliungas had been evil and disastrous. There was always an idea that they should he Careful In legislating against the liberty of the subject, but in this particular matter the houndary line had been passed, and steps should bo taken by the State to protect those who were being injured. He submitted the Bill with confidence. Mr Herries, in. supporting the Bill, said it should have heen introduced long ago. He urged that more lcgallyi]ualilied doctors should he stationed in native districts. This would soon put mi end to the malpractice of tolmngas. whose occupations would soon he gone. Mr Ifelce found fault with the Hill beit did not go far enough, and contained no provision for dealing with the pakeha tohunga. Mr Stevens strongly supported the Bill and urged thai members should do all in their power to suppress the baneful influences, and the hundreds of lives endangered liy tolmnga practices. Mr Paratn said toliungas did not flourish in the South Island. One did make his appearance in his (Mr Parnta's) electorate, hut he made it his business to tell him to clear out. and he went back to the Xorth Island. He stronaly favored the Bill. ' '

Mr Wilfnrd considered tlio matter of dealing with tohungas a very serious one. WlinMhc colony had done during the course of many years had in manv instances licen undone in a very short time by tohungas, who were the/ cause of much of file disruption that had taken place. Tie urged tli.it as tolmngnism was an excrescence on the otherwise smooth surface, it should lie subjected to the surgeon's knife, and cut out. The ITousc adjourned at 5.30.

ETENTNG SITTCNti. The House resumed at 7.30. The Lind Laws Amendment Bill, land and Income Tax Amendment Bill, and National Endowment Bills were brought down by Governor's Message and read a first time. The Premier takes chi.rgo of the Land and \nenme tux mid National Endowment Bills. The Land Laws Amendment Bill is in (1„. hands of the Hon. Mr McNafb.

TOll tNUA SUPPRESSION. Jlr WTLFOR]), resuming the debate on the Tohimg.i. Suppression Bill, advocated dealing with tohungaisin under the Habitual Offenders Act, 1000. _ Mr NtJA'JA said there was no definition of Tohunga in the Bill. He traced the history of the tohunga, and declared they were to-day dealing with a bastard t-oluingaism. ' He believed tohungas ot old wen- accpiaiuted with the healing properties of many of the plants of New Zealand, and maintained there was a good field in the flora, of New Zealand for medical experiments. He argued that there were not sufficient medical men in the Maori districts, and though, theoretically, the sanatorium and hospital were open to the Maori, it was most difficult to get the nativ;si into these institutions. He stated that they could not cope successfully with tohnngaism unless they gave the Maoris a. substitute, in the form of more legally qualified practitioners. . Consumption was the curse of the Maori, and many natives, hoping against hope, were induced to K"ek relief from tohungas. He had grert pleasure in supporting the' Bill.

Mr A. L. 1). FRASER congratulated the Native Minister on the Bill, but thought it had been brought down too bite, as these people, who burl been demoralising the natives, should have heen denJt with Ion?; ago. He tnought the Bill not severe or drastic enough. Mr MA.IOB also supported the motion.

The ITon. Mr CARROTX replied, and (he second reading was agreed to and 1 the Bill referred to the Native Affairs Committee for their report.

The PREMIER moved the second reading of the Police Offences Aet Amendment Bill, having for its object the regulation of boxing contests. The second roding was agreed to without discussion. The second reading of the Products Export Amendment Bill was agreed to on the voices. The FARRIERS' RIT.L was read a third lime and passed. The TTonse rose at. 0.30.