PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 28 September 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

FRIDAY, SKPTEAIBKR 27. , LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to the lion. .Mr, JJeehan, who asked if the (iovernnient would take into consideration during the recess the desirability of erecting a statue ill Auckland of Captain llobson, lirst Governor of the colony, The All orney-General said he could only reply in the words of the late Air. Seddon when a similar question was asked in the other 'House, that if a movement took place among the people of Auckland to conserve the memory of Captain llobson by the erection of a statue in Albert Park, the Covcrnment would be prepared to consider the question of granting a subsidy. I The Pure Food Bill was further con- | sidered in committee.

On the motion of the Attorney-Gen-eral, a new sub-clause was added to clause 20, making it an offence for a baker to take hack bread from a purchaser after the latter' has had it in his possession one hour. The Hill was reported as amended. The Indictable Offences Summary Jurisdiction !"'" passed through committee with verbal amendment and was read a third time and passed. 'The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Animals Protection Hill, to consolidate and amend the law for the protection of animals and the encouragement of acclimatisation societies. He explained the various provisions.

The Hon. Air. George said no doubt a consolidated Act as proposed was desirable, but various amendments were necessary if the present conditions continued. In a few years no law would lie required, as the Act of 1882 protected the enemies of rabbits—stoats, ferrets, weasels, etc.—and these would demolish game. He would move in committee to repeal the clauses of that Act relating to the protection of the natural enemies of rabbits, which were becoming a greater nuisance than the rabbits themselves. He pointed out that under the Bill it would be impossible for him or anyone to obtain game unless he went o\jt and obtained it himself. He urged that provision should be made to absolutely prevent the use of live decoys. He animadverted upon the cruel practice in certain cases of enclosing hares for the chase, leaving one small outlet for escape, and then returning a I hare that is lucky enough to get "away ! for a further chase. He would move in | committee to prevent that cruelty conI nected with sport, and also entered a i protest against pigeon-matches with live birds, and objected to the proposed protection of wallabies or opossums, which became a curse to the country. The Hon. Air. Jenkinson took exception to the provision prohibiting the killing of game other than deer between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. This he considered absurd. : ''& M

The second reading was agreed to, and the Bill referred to the, Statutes Revision Committee. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Marine Insurance Bill to codify the law relating to marine in: urance. The Alinister explained thai the Bill differs in no material respect from the English Act, save so far as is necessary lo harmonise the, provisions with New Zealand statutes. The second reading was agreed to. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Methylated Spirit Bill (from the. other House), the principal object of which is to prohibit the purification of methylated spirit. The second reading was agreed to, and the Council rose at 4.15.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Premier made statements with reference to the case of the suspended civil servant (McCullough) and the militia regulations (reported elsewhere). The House then went into committee on the Land and Income Assessment Bill.