PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SEVERAL BILLS DISCUSSED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.80 p.m Sir Francis Bell gave notice of the Divorce and Matrimonial Clauses Amendment Bill. Cir Francis Bell introduced the Loan Companies Bill, which was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The ex planatory memorandum read by the mover said the effect is to postpone the calling up of the unpaid capital of shareholders until the expiration of the moratorium on mortgages. The Bill allows the Supreme Court to approve schemes for the transfer of mortgages to creditors in satisfaction of proofs. The last clause provides that the Bill shall expire on December 31, 1924, the date approved for the expiry of the moratorium on mortgages.

The Shops and Offices Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Labor Bills Committee. The Valuation of Land Amendment Bill was read a second time and _referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Animals Protection and Game Bill.

The lion. w. J. Geddis welcomed the Bill, but said the clause which made it an offence to have possession of the feathers of protected birds was a danger to fishermen, some of whose flies were composed of bittern feathers. Those flies were imported from England, but fishermen, if accosted, would be unable to prove the pffdigrec of the bird. The Hon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie referred to the fact that some of the most pernicious birds were in the protected list, and he instanced the waxeye. He would like to see paradise ducks included in the first schedule.

The Hon. G. M. Thomson suggested that the Government should prohibit pigeon-shooting matches, and he said he would propose an amendment. The Hon. Sir Waiter Buchanan agreed that steps should be taJLen to protect native game. He’ also urged that magpies should be protected. The regulation regarding opossums should be considerably altered to give further Yelicf to orchadists worried by opossums. The Hou. W. W. Snodgrass said the trap-shooting of pigeons and the coursing of hares should be stopped.

The Hon. C. M. Izard feared the Bid might make it illegal for private persons to breed native or imported game. Sir Francis Bell, in reply, said that personally he thought paradise ducks should be in the first schedu’l'. He thought, too, it was dangerous to allow an absolutely protected bird to be removed from its schedule by GovernorGeneral’s warrant.

The Bill was read a second tiriie and referred to a select committee.

Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Local Bodies Finance Bill, saying that if the Bill was passed local bodies in future would pay for works out of rotes, and not by overdrafts. No Act of greater value had been passed by the Legislature for many Parliaments. The Hon. G. J. Smith suggested that larger cities might require longer than seven years in which to put their finances in order. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council rose at 4.35 p.m.