PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 124, 3 September 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. INDECENT PUBLICATIONS. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the Indecent Publications Bill was committed. At clause 3 the AttorneyGeneral moved the omission of the word "knowingly," in the subsection relating to sending or delivering, or causing to be 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 the police, and providing that no prosecution shall be commenced except with leave of the Attorney-General. The Bill was reported as amended. The second reading of the Phosphorus Matches Bill from the House was agreed to after a brief discussion.

The Companies Amendment Bill was put through committee without amendment.

The Exhibitions Bill was read a second time after a short discussion, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. DEFAULTING BOARDERS. The House met at 2.30. The Public Petitions Committee ot the petition of boardinghouse keepers of Tei Aroha, praying that they be placed on a similar footing to hotelkeepers in regard to defaulting boarders, reported to the effect that the matter be referred to the Government for consideration.

Sir J. G. Ward saf.d the matter opened up an important question. People might leave their luggage behind at boardinghouses and find it disposed of in a few days. He moved that the matter be referred back to the Committee for further consideration. The motion was agreed to. STATEMENT OF REVENUE. The Premier read the following statement of revenue for the five months ended August 31, 1910, compared with the corresponding five months in 1909. Customs: 1910 £1,146,852, 1909 £993,547; increase £153,305. Stamps (Stamp' Department): 1910 £283,084, 1909 £415,989, (iPost and Telegraph Department) £214,783; increase in the Stamp Department £81,878. Post and Telegraph cash receipts: 1910 £78,150, 1909 £69,115; increase £9,035. Land and Income Tax: 191 D £2p3l, 1909 £24,263; increase £I9OB. Beer dutv: 1910 £41,927, 1909 £41,134; increase £793. Railways: 1910 £1,269,231, 1909£ 1,-; 109,808; increase £99,423. Re'gistra-| tion and other fees: 1910 £29,720, 1909 £32,811; decrease £3091. Marine: 1910 £16,743, 1009 £16,694; increase 1 £49. Miscellaneous: 1910 £118,771, 1909 £113,069; increase £5702. Territorial: 1910 £87,182, 1909 £66,455, in-; crease £20,727. Total amount of rev- 1 enue: 1910 £3,312,674, 1909 £2,942,885; increase £372,880, less decrase in registration and other fees £-3091, making a net increase for ; the five months of £369,789. | Replying to Mr. Massey, Sir J. G.j Ward said the Land Bill would be brought down this evening by Gover-j nor's message or on Wednesday next,! probably the latter date. I The second reading of the Rivers Board Amendment Bill was moved by Mr. Buddo, who explained that the object of the Bill was. to empower River Boards to purchase lands liable to be> injuriously affected by river works. The powers to be conferred under the Bill: had been asked for by River Boards. j The second reading was carried oh the, voices. | The second reading of the Animals, Protection Bill was moved by Mr. Buddo. The Bill provides for the aboli-, tiom of the cylinder shooting of ducks and the protection of godwits, and the. removal of a number of anomalies in j the principal Act restricting the importation of animals. j In the House of Representatives there was a debate on I;he second reading of the Animals Protection Bill, the general veiw being that native bird life should be protected to a greater extent than at present, and that more sanctuaries should be provided. The Hon. T. Mackenzie suggested that scenic reserves should be used as sanctuaries for the natural fauna of the Dominion

Mr. Buddo, in his reply, said he was glad to see so much interest in the preservation of bird life. There was considerable difficulty in carrying out the law that every third year should be a close season, as when it came round, the Acclimatisation Societies asked for an open season. He hoped that when the next close season came round public opinion would be in favour of the law being observed. The second reading was agreed to. NATIVE MATTERS. I The Hon. Mr. Carroll moved the second reading' of the Native Townships Bill. The Bill is intended to make better provision with respect to the ownership and disposition of land in natlvl townships, which are to be,vested in Maori Land Boards with power to lease same with perpetual right of renewal after every 21 years. Power is cdvei> under the Bill for the purchase of°land in townships by the Crown. The Bill repeals and amends Acts dealing with native townships and aims at accelerating the settlement of native townships by vesting the sole control of the lands in the Board, improving the system of leasing, and giving the right of purchase to the Crown. Mr. Herries said the Bill was a con-j solidating one, and contained no new| principles, except the' bringing of the) Maori Land Board under the provisions! of the Lands for Leasing Act. While' provision was made for the granting of the Glasgow lease by the Maori La'iid Board, this was not compulsory. He hoped that in the committee stage a clause would be inserted giving lessees, the power to purchase from the lessors.' This was the only way in which native; townships could be made successful. No provision was made in the Bill for | future townships such as might spring i up in the Urewera country if gold was j discovered there. \ Mr. Massey said the Bill would effect considerabde improvement on the preI sent state of affairs. He would, how- ' ever, like to know if the Goevrnment intended to purchase any native land in certain townships other than those men- . tioned in the Bill. Mr. Kaihau opposed the Bill. whi«h should have been first referred to the Maoris; who were not aware that their rights in connection with native townships- being taken away. The Bill was the thin end of the wedge which would be used to take away the lands of the Maoris. The House had no .justification for depriving the Maoris of their rights.