HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1920, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

LIGHT RAILWAYS. Tlie House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. ' Replying to Mr. Young, Mr. Massey said he nad been advised by Mr. Visitorman, of the Public Works" Department, that it would not be advisable to purchase some of the light railways material used in France during the war at the price asked. Mr. Viokerman said it would be-better to purchase new material. SOLDIER SELECTORS. Replying to Mr. Poland, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie denied that any political influence had been used in connection with the selection of settlers for the Reparoa soldiers' settlement. A GOVERNMENT HARBOR. The Westport Harbor Board Abolition Bill was introduced by Governor's message. Mr. Massey said the fact was that the finances of this board had been toft long time most unsatisfactory. The harbor was easily the most important coal harbor of the Dominion, and it required development in a way the board could not enter upon. The Government proposed to take the Tuirbor over and 'work it as it ought to be worked. Mr. 'Holland said the whole of the harbor board's financial troubles arose because the Government had interfered with the board's endowment. He would oppose the Bill at every stage, because if the Government could seize this harbor, who could say where they would stop? NEW BILLS. Amendments to the Native Trustee Bill were brought down by. Governor's message and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: —Waimakariri. Harbor District Empowering and Amendment , Bill (Mr. Jones); Native Land Act, 1909, Amendment Bill (Mr. Wilford); External Affairs Amendment Bill (Hon. E. P." Lee), Gaming Act Amendment Bill (No. 2) (Mr. Hunter); Shops and Offices Amendment Bill (No. 2) (Mr. MeCombsJ. THE CRIMES BILL. The Hon. E. P. Lee moved the second reading of the Crimes Amendment Bill, which, he explained, proposed, to give the right of appeal against sentences passed on criminals by the Supreme Court. When this right of appeal is availed of, the Court hearing the appeal has a right to increase the sentence as well as to reduce it. The second part of the Bill extended the powers of the Prisons Board. Mr. McCalluin. .objected to a clause empowering Judges of Appeal to increase sentences, which he characterised as "unsportsmanlike." Mr. Fraser gave general support to the measure, hut stressed the importance of a clause providing that prisoners may be employed usefully and paid some wages for the benefit of their dependents, who suffered more than the criminal himself. The Bill was read a second time on the voices.