PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 113, 20 August 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night, CRIMES BILL. The Legislative Council this afternoon resumed the debate on the Crimes Bill. The Hon. 0. Samuel gave general support to the bill and said he woma. do his j very best to assist to pass a' measure designed to carry out tue noble object which it had in view. He thought the Bill should go further than it di<i, and take crime and drunkenness in their earjy stages for reformative purposes. There was danger in giving power to judges and magistrates of inflicting , years »f detention upon persons after j they had served specihe sentences, without giving an accused the opportunity I of publicly showing reason® against further detention. In regard to the Prisons Board, he contended it was impossible for a Minister of the Crown to perform the duties imposed by the bill upon such board. He approved of the Board, but he was not certain that it was advisable to have civil servants upon it. He hoped that those who objected to the teaching of trades in gaols Would see how misguided it was to prevent criminals being taught how to earn a livelihood when liberated. Hon. M. Beechan gave his approval to th« Bill, but he thought the Government ought to have institutions for dealing with inebriates. Hon. J. Ban- approved of the proposal to give prisoners instruction in skilled trades. He did not think trades unions would block the proposal; in fact, he did not think they would bother about the matter at all. The debate was adjourned and the Council adjourned until Wednesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Premier gave notice of motion that after Wednesday next Government .business take precedence over ordinary business; also that Mr. J. Colvin (Buller) be appointed chairman of committees. The Mining Act Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma. Sir J. G. Ward moved the second reading of the Rangitiki Land Drainage Bill, the object'oi which was to provide funds for the drainage of lands comprising 87.100 acres, situated in the Bay <Jf Plenty district. The Bill proposed to bring unoccupied Crown lands and native lands within the contributing aaea. The settlers in the district had spent £SOOO in attempts to drain the swaimp, and had requested the Government to undertake the -work at the expense ojf ratepayers. The Government proposed to take the work in hand and to take over the brainage Board's liabilities, and to sitrike a rate to raise funds to carry on the work. Certain areas of unoccupied lands would be acquired for closer settlement.

| Mr. Herries agreed with the principle of the Bill, which would benefit the district and tlie Dominion generally. Mr. Massey supported the Bill, and said that if the scheme was successful, the Government would lose nothing, and would confer a great benefit on the settlers. Hon. A. Ngata said the Native Minister had authorised him to say that negotiations were going on for the acquisition of 90,000 acres in the eastern portion of the Urewera country. It was hoped that by the middle of nexrt month the negotiations would take definite shape. Offers for the sale of land in portions of the Whakatane Valley were also l>eing made. After a'brief reply by SirJ. G-. Ward, the second reading was carried. The House rose at 5.30. The evening sitting was devoted to the discussion of the Government's Public Debt Extinction Bill, reported elsewhere.