PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 23 August 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

TiiUittjUAV:, AUUUST 22. (By Telegraph—Press Association), LEGISLAIIVE COUNCIL. Tliu Council met al 2.30. The (Jostley Training institution „\';t Amendment iiiU was committed, witli a new clause added by the Altorney-Uen-eral validating the. acts done by any trustee notwithstanding any defect in liis appointment, The Bill was reported a3 amended.

TOHUxNUA aiTl?Kiifc>Slt»l BILL. Tke Attorney-Ueneral moved the second reading ot the Toliuuga Supplession Bill to check the practice ot lohuugaistn among the Maoris. The Minister spoke strongly of the necessity to as far as possible put an end to the practice of ctarlatanisni among the natives, whose winds \vere unsettled by it to their great detriment.

Hon. W'i l'cre said there were some toliungas who did their best for the amelioration of suffering, but others ofton had an ulterior object, and that was to get hold of a very nice wiie. Uc then went into a disquisition of »n----ciont Maori mythology. He desired tie Bill to be passed into law. Hon Mr Scotland^considered the Bill too lukewarm, 100 milk and watery, to achievo its object. He would like to ,'see it more comprehensive and apply to thought-readers and faith-healers, who were nothing but tohungas. Hon. Mr Kigg pointed out that the power of suggestion might be used with beneficial results, and it was a question whether they should include in the term tohungaisni that phase of healing which might be due to hypnotism or suggestion. Ha did not think tney should too hurriedly condemn that which they did not uuderstand.He would voto for the Bill as it was permissive,' seeing that action could not be taken without permission, but thought «ducation and help of the more enlightened members of the race necessary to achieve a complete remedy, of the evil. Hon. George, while not opposing tAe BiH, pointed out that there was no explanation of what a tohunga really was. Education might help, but would not entirely eradicate tonungaism. He instanced the recent rain-making experiments in Oainaru as showing how lohungaism retained its hold on the people. Hon. J. MeCardle supported the Bill, which he thought would do much to-' wards suppressing tohungaism and the ills arising from it. Hon. O. Samuel thought the Legislature should Be extremely careful how it discriminated between one portion of the people of the colony and He thought the Bill should be made temporary in operation. It would be undesirable to make permanent an arbitrary law to deal with a question.which a year or two would dispose of. Ho indicated certain amendments which he considered necessary to be made. Hon. Mr Jones resented Mr George's remarks about tohungaism and raininaking at Oainaru, and said the cxpsriments had proved highly satisfactory. Hon. Feldwick generally supported the Bill.

Hon. G. Smith was prepared to accept the statements of experts that the r.ill was necessary, but the debate had not demonstrated that it was so.

Mr Louisson also supported, and the debate was adjourned, the Council rising at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House fuel at 2.U0.

Tuo l'utone Water [Supply Conservation Bill was committed and passed through, committee with some tecimical amendments. - , WAITAIIA IIAKBOK BILL. The Waitara Harbor district and Jimpowering Bill was committed, Mr Ukey opposed the Bill on behalf of the New Plymouth. Harbor Board. Mr Jennings, member in. charge of the BUI, said tho Now Plmouth Harbor Board proposed to raise a new loan oi £150,000, and Waitara. desired to be excluded from the consequent rating. Mr Massey said the Question was whotlicv Tarauakj was to have a harbor or not, and whether Waitara or New Plymouth was the beet for the province. He considered New Plymouth was the best. It was the nearest pori) to Sydney, and he considered there were" great possibilities of direct trade between Sydney and New Plymouth being developed.

The dicussion was proceeding when the House adjourned at 5.30. HYISING SITTING. '

At clause 5, which provides that the right of the New Plymouth Harbor Board shall not be prejudiced in its right to continue to levy rates over tho area comprised in the Waitara Harbor district for Hie purpose of providing for the payment of interest end sinking fund on the existing loan of €200.0110, an amendment was moved to make the amount £350,000, so as to include the additional ;C150,000 tho New Plymouth Harbor Board proposes to raise bv loan.

On a division the amendment was negatived by 42 to 13, and the claaso passed without alteration. The Bill was put through all the committee stages. The Gore Streets Bill was committed. The Bill, with amendments, was put through the committee stages without amendments. The Apiaries Bill was put through its final stages and passed.