PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 157, 12 October 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE on REPRESENTATIVES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30 p.m. PROTECTION OF ANIMALS. The motion of Mr. Buddo that amendments to the Animals Protection Bill be made in committee was agreed to. Considerable discussion ensued on a motion for the third reading of the Bill, in which speakers advocated the protection of all kinds of birds, and the declaration of scenic reserves as sanctuaries for fauna. Various other suggestions in favor of the preservation and protection of wild animal life were made. Mr. Buddo was 'glad to find general opinion in fa .'or of protecting the (wild life of the D. minion. He approved the suggestion t1...t scenic reserves be. declared sanctuaries for birds, and proposed to follow the example of South Australia and issue a circular containing the names of all native birds protected by the Act for the information of schoolboys. Teachers could assist in disseminating a knowledge of and respect for wild life. The Bill was read a third time and passed. AMENDMENTS TO CRIMES BILL. Mr. Millar moved that the amendments made in committee to the Crimes Bill be agreed to. Mr.. Wilford moved that the Bill be recommitted for reconsideration of clause 4, providing that summary conviction may include reformative detention. The clause was unworkable, 1 s<nd, if passed, it would make, the country ring with cries of injustice. j A Messrs. Herries and HerdmanS'concurred in the proposition. | u After further discussion, during .jwliich Mr. Millar said he would be to recommit the Bill with the object oft, amending the.following clause as to make it perfectly clear that of appeal was given to tenced to reformative detention, Ofe* amendment was lost bv 32 to 30. On the motion of Sir J. G. Ward the Bill was then recommitted to reconsider clause 4a,' relating to the right ot appeal, and progress was immediately, reported to enable a new clause to hi drafted. 5 NATIVE TOWNSHIPS. | A number of amendments to the Nay tive Townships Bill were introduced by Governor's message. These provide for land acquired by the Crown being (lis posed of by the Governor-in-Council. in accordance with regulations, and that land in a native township may be sold to private persons by a Maori LniSjl Board. S? Mr. Taylor (Christchurch) regarded the amendments as facilitating free trade in Maori lands, which he deprecated. Mr. Carroll (Native Minister) said fit agreed on broad lines with Mr. Taylor, but every precaution had been taken to. prevent natives dispossessing themselves entirely of their land. He asked the committee to pass the amendments as they stood. A motion by Mr. Herries that the Bill be recommitted in order to reconsider clause 19, providing that lands in native townships may be sold to the Crown, was carried by 48 to 12. In committee, the amendment to clause 19, proposed by the Minister, providing that the land in a native township may also be sold to persons other than the Crown, was negatived on the voices. The new clause 21a, providing for land acquired by the Crown being disposed of by regulation, was carried. The new clause 21b, providing that. a Maori Land Board may, with precedent and the consent of beneficial owners or trustees, sell land in a native township to private persons, was proposed by the Native Minister. Mr. Hogg moved an amendment in the direction of abolishing sale by private contract, which was rejected by 39 to 20. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. LAND SPECULATION IN KING COUNTRY. This evening the consideration of the Native Townships Bill was resumed in committee. Mr. Herries moved that sub-clause 4 of clause 21b, providing that no sale shall be valid unless consented to by the Governor in Council, be deleted. Mr. Jennings opposed the amendment on the ground that he was opposed to undue land speculation. There was ai present a gang of speculators engaged in exploiting the King Country. Messrs. Poole, Luke and Ross also opposed the amendment for similar reasons. Mr. Fraser pointed out that the Bill onlv referred to townships and did not deal with the acquisition of lars;e areas by syndicates. After further discussion the amendment was put and rejected b\ 41 to 23. The clause was passed and the Bill reported with amendment. On the House resuming the amendments were agreed to on the motion for a third reading. Mr. Herries congratulated the Govern ment on the change of front shown in bringing down the amendments providing for the sale of the freehold. He trusted the Bill would operate for the benefit of those who were interested in it. Sir J. G. Ward said the 1 Government had not altered its policy. The Nativt Minister had previously indicated that he was prepared to consider the amendments which had just been carried. Credit for initiating the amendments was due to Mr. Jennings, who had been moving in that direction for several years. The debate was ''ontrnned at considerable length, and the Bill was read a third 'time and passed. CRIMES AMENDMENT BILL. The House went into committee on the Crimes Amendment Bill to recon: sider clause 4a. Mr. Millar moved thnt the clause be amended to read as follows: "Every person sentenced bv a Magistrate to a period nf reformative detention may at any time within fourteen days apply e\ parte to a Judge of the Supreme Court to review the sentence on -the ground that the same is excessive or ought not to hive been passed, and such Judge nni' thereupon either uphold or reverst such sentence. Nothing in the section is to effect any ri-.sht of appeal against convictions in resp< ct of which sentences of reformative detention are passed. The Govemor-in-Couneil may, with concurrence of anv two Judges of the Rui preme Court, make rules governing the procedure in such appeals." The clause was inserted, and the Bill read a third time and passed. STONE QUARRIES BILL. The Hon. R. McKenzie moved that the amendments made in committee on the Stone Ouarries Bill be agreed to. Mr. Witty moved that, the Bill be recommitted for the purpose of striking but the proviso to clause 2 which cxtmpts quarries used by local bodies for

obtaining stone for use on public roadj from the scope of the Bill. i The amendment was carried by 42 tq IS, and the Bill recommitted. , REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Ministers, replying to questions tabled for to-morrow, stated— That in regard to short Government Reserve leases the whole question dealing with public reserve leases was under con,« sideration.

That the matter of establishing a Stafa uniform factory is kept in view, but cott« siderable time must elapse before it can be seriously considered.

That it is expected the Cass section oS the Midland railway will be open fog traffic about the end of next month.

' That the policy of the Government fS to encourage ami i?s>.it prJctical fanners ■vith caj)ital to emigrate iron the United Kingdom to thv- Do'dinum. That the suggv-tbn of aiiowjn? inuwc* tors of orchards ro 'spray fruit irees ofj persons requiring same, will be given ef« feet to if found practicable.