PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. CENSORSHIP OF PICTURES. %t T«lajrapli.~Pres» Associates. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Workers' Compensation Amendment Bill was received from the House of Representatives, read a second timo pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Sir Francis Bell gave notice to move the introduction of the Incorporated Societies Amendment Bill. The Hon. G. M. Thomson moved that the Government be asked to strengthen the censorship of cinematograph films, with the object of eliminating noxious elements, which are tending to destroy the moral sense of many young persons. He regretted that many films conveyed bad suggestions, and he argued that no good result would be achieved by the use of the so-called moral films. Those films conveyed more immoral suggestions than good. The Hon. M. Cohen, seconded the motion. There was an urgent need, he said, for strengthening the hand of the censor, for it was useless to spend millions in education to have all the good undone in this way. The Hon. W. H. Triggs 'referred to the fact that people in the Cook Islands had asked that the censorship he Btricter, as pictures tending to degrade white women in the eyes of the natives were having a bad effect. What was required locally was that the censor should be backed up by public opinion. The motion was carried unanimously.

ELECTRIC POWER BOARDS. The Electric Power Board Amendment Bill was put through its final stages and passed. Amendments were made to enable a Power Board, instead of having a valuatin roll and rate book of its own, to use as much as may bo necessary 'of the valuation rolls and rate books of the local bodies of the district, and to enable local bodies to advance £250 instead of £IOO towards the preliminary expenses of the board. The amount which local bodies may deduct for the collection of rates was increased from 2i to 4- per cent. The Offenders Probation Bill was put through its final stages and passed. The Statutes Drafting and Compilation Bill was received from the House and read a second time. The BUI was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hon. J. McGregor withdrew, with the permission of the Council, the Marriage Amendment. Bill (No. 2). The Council rose at 4.55 p.m.