PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8491, 20 July 1907, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

(Abridged from Press Association, Report.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.. WELLINGTON, July 19. The House met at 2.30 o'clock. In introducing the second reading of the Tohurga Suppression Bill\the Minister said tohungas were opposed to civilising influences, and tended to create notoriety for themselves. They hostileattitude towards the laws making for public interests, and also by the advice given to followers incited them to resist the laws brought into vogue for the advancement of civilisation. The result of tohunga influences had been that many Maoris had forsaken cultivations and withdrawn their children from schools and abandoned themselves to the whims and caprices of some tohunga prominent in their locality. Mr Hone Heke found fault with the Bill, because it did not go far enough, and contained no provisions for dealing with the pakeha tohunga. Mr Stevens strongly supported the Bill, and urged that members should do,all in their power to suppress the baneful practices of tohungas. Mr T. Parata said that tohungas did not flourish in the South Island. One did make his appearance in his (Mr Parata's) electorate, but he made it his business to tell him'to clear out, and he went back to the North Island. He strongly favoured the Bill.

I The House adjourned at 5.30 o'clocki I The House resumed at 7.30 o'clock. The Land Laws Amendment Bill, Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill and National Endowment Bill were brought down by Governor's Message and read a first time. The Premier takes charge of the Land and Income Tax and National Endowment Bill. The Land Laws Amendment Bill is in the hands of the Hon. R. McNab. Mr Wilford resuming the debate on the Tohunga Suppression Bill advocated dealing with Tohungaism under the Habitual Offenders Act, 1906. The second reading was agreed to. Ihe Farriers Bill was read a third time and passed. The House rose at 9.30 o'clock.