PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE LAND LAWS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met to-dav, at 2.30 p.m. i The Council passed, without amend- ) ment, the Land Laws Amendment Bill. In reply to a suggestion that clause i nine of the Land Bill should be extended to enable lessees of educational endow- ■ ment reserves to surrender their pre- » sent leases and obtain a new lease, Sir William Fraser said that there was difficulty in amending the law in that direction this session. The matter had rei ceived the attention of the Government, and, if necessary, legislation would be introduced next year, so that no injustice -would be done. The Council adjourned at 3.5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. R. P. Hudson (Motueka), the Hon. G. J. Anderson said no alteration had been made in the law regarding the coal mining royalty. A clause was recently inserted in the Mining Bill to check speculative dealing in coal leases, but no check had been placed on legitimate mining, and never would be. Replying to the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill), Mr. Massey said to the best of his recollection there was about £1,000,000 outstanding as death duties, most of which, however, -was interestbearing. He would have a return of the actual amount prepared and presented to the House. In reply to Dr. H. T. Thacker (Christchurch East), Sir M. Pomare said it was hoped shortly to establish a system of wireless telephony between the outer islands of the Cook Group, by wOiich it was hoped much loss in fruit for export would be avoided. He had been advised that a shipment of seven thousand cases of fruit was awaiting shipment at Rarotonga, which was a’record for the islands. THE AMUSEMENT TAX. An amendment to the Amusement Tax Bill was brought down by Governor’s message. ’ Mr. Massey stated the amendment was an alteration in the date of the coming into operation of the Act. It had been intended to bring it into force on November, but as this would exclude several agricultural shows from its exemptions it was therefore proposed to bring it into force on being signed by the Governor-General. DAYLIGHT BAKING “KILLED.” Sir John Luke, as chairman of the Labor Bills Committee, reported that the committee was of opinion that the Daylight Baking Bill should not be allowed to proceed. The report -was agreed to. The Aged and Infirm Persons Protection Bill was passed through the committee stage without amendment, read a third time and passed. The House rose at 11.5 p.m. till 7.30 p.m. on Monday.