PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THE GAMING BILL, CONTROL OF COOK ISLANDS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. R. F. Bollard (Raglan) stated that in the division on the Gaming Amendment Bill last night he voted against the Bill, but his name was not recorded on the division list. He asked that it might be recorded as he voted. The Speaker ordered the division list to be amended accordingly. The voting would therefore be: Against the Bill, 37; for" the Bill 28.

-Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill were received. The Hon. G. J. Anderson explained that the amendments were intended to make more definite the authority of the Court during the time Mr. Reardon occupied a seat on the Court. The amendments were agreed to. Mr. V. H. Reed (Bay of Islands) moved. the second reading of the Land Amendment Bill, which he said was intended to ensure that only receipts from Crown timber and flax royalties should be paid to local authorities. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) asked the Speaker to rule whether the Bill was not an appropriation Bill and therefore out of order. The Speaker said the Bill appeared to arrange for the disposal of Crown revenue and was an appropriation. Bill and therefore out of order.

The Hon. Dr. Pomare moved the second reading of the Cook Islands Amendment Bill, which he said had been approved by the Native Council of the Cook Islands and by the Native Affairs Committee of the House. When the

Annexation of the islands took place the natives made it a condition that there should be no European representative on the Native Council. This had always been a grievance with the whites living and paying taxes in the islands. Ultimately the natives were induced to forego this condition, and so it was now agreed there should be one European representative on the Native Council, and the Bill provided for this. Other clauses provided for better government of the islands, including an amendment of the divorce laws, and were based on the experience of past administration. Clause twelve was important, inasmuch as it imposed total prohibition of liquor throughout the islands. This was to some extent a complement of granting European representation on tlje Native Council, as the natives had stipulated that it should be one of the conditions that natives and Europeans should be placed oh the same level in regard to the use of ifquor. Liquor could be obtained under medical orders.

Mr. Wilford congratulated the Government on the appointment of the present Commissioner in the Cook Islands, who was a man of singleness of purpose. He approved of the policy in connection with the prohibition of liquor, though he doubted if it could be made effective. He also approved of an amendment of the divorce laws, which he thought more reasonable than the provisions made in the Samoa Act. In his reply the Hon. Dr. Pomare admitted that there was a need of adequate prisons on the islands, where prisoners could be kept, as they were passing from the state when it was sufficient to imprison a native by making him work on the roads. The second reading was agreed to on the voices.

EVENING SITTING. FINANCE AND TARIFF. When the House resumed in the evening Mr. Massey delivered the Financial Statement. The reading of the Financial Statement was concluded, amidst applause, at 9.10 p.m., and the House then proceeded to consider the resolutions necessary to effect a revision of the Customs tariff. The resolutions were agreed to and reported to the Hobse. Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East) asked if it was proposed to levy an increased duty on spirits. Mr. Massey said the present duty on spirits was 18s per gallon and the proposed duty was 36s per gallon. In reply to Dr. Newman, Mr. Massey said the Government was considering the question of introducing a Fair Rent Bill. He hoped to make a statement on the subject in the course of a few days. In reply to Mr. Wilford, Mr. Massey said he proposed to take the debate on the Budget next Wednesday. After that the schecjules of the tariff would come on, and then the Tariff Bill.

The House rose at 9.25 pan. until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.