PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10063, 10 August 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. 1 WELLINGTON, August 9. This afternoon the_ Hon. J. G. Ffndlay, Attorney-General, moved, in a speech occupuig two and a half hours, the second reading of the Crimes Amendment Bill. In doing so he pointed out the nece-sity i:v abulishing the old and bad system of vengeance. The principles under • lying his reform proposals were protection of the community and reform of the criminal. The first step in the reform was to classify the prisoners, and it was proposed to separate them into six ciasaes, and the prisons have to be olassitied into:—l, Penitentiaries and penal establishments for male and female offenders. 2. Institutions fjr sexual perverbs and crimi nals o f unsound mind. 3. Reformatory for men, including farms and camps. 4. Reformatories for women. 5. Institutions for corrigible and incorrigible drunkards. A Prison Board would be appointed by the Governor, ', consisting of not less than three or | more than five persons, one to be a [ Judge of the Supreme Court and the others permanent officers of the public service. The functions of the Board would be to inquire as to the reformation of habitual criminals after the determination of sentence, for the purpose of deciding as to whether suffici pt grounds for releasing him on probation or discharging him, and to make recommendations to the Governor on i\,t subject at least once a year". Persons detained a* habitual criminals or habitual offenders are to be employed in such work as is prescribed '• by the regulations, and wages would be credited to him to be paid wholly or in pare as directed by the Minister of Justice. Every person who, before the coming into operation of this Act, had been declared a habitual criminal, or a habitual offender, would be detained in a prison under the Prisons Act, 1908, initead of in , a reformatory prison under the , Crimes Act, 1908. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. , The House met at 2.30. ]

The Financial Debate was resumed by Mr F. W. Lang, Manukau. who congratulated'the Hon. J. Carroll on hisspeech.< The Government's Native policy had had the effect of keeping the races apart and not of bringing them together. Tbe Maori ought to share the same privileges and responsibilities as the European. The time had arrived when all lands, whether Native or European, fit for cultivation should be opened for settlement. The land tax was out of all proportion to the income tax, and he condemned the graduated land tax as upfair, in that it was invidious and uojust in singling out the man on the land.

Hon. D. Buddo, Kfeiapoi, replying to Mr Lane, declared that the Maoris in the South Island would be absolutely penniless had they beer allowed to deal with their own lands. He strongly disapproved of settling the back blocks unless roads and railways were provided for the settlers within a reasonable time. Mr Buddo went on to refer to the criticism of the financial position and the superannuation schemes, which he contended were sound. He denied that the Canterbury members bad ever voted against the interests of farmers at any time. Mr W. C. Buchanan, Wairarapa, complained that taxation was very heavy in comparison to Australia. , In the evening Mr Buchanan, continuing his speech, admitted that the Government had done a great deal for the farmers, hut more wight have been done.

Mr J. T. Hogan, Wanganui, quoted figures to show that the trend of taxation had been in the direction of placing the burden on those most able to bear it. Mr Massey had appled ths term "Tammanyism" to the House. This he (Mr Hogan) resented. He believed the Parliament of New Zealand whs one of the straightest going in the world. He would vote for a Select Committee being set ( up to investigate the charges made. Mr F. W. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, in a personal explanation, deni, - 5 having used the term "Tammanyism" lo the House. He had used the word during the recess in reference to the Government's use of money for public works. He adhered to the statements ther, made. Mr W.H. Field, Otaki, said that at the present time theie was little to complain of in regaiJ to *he Native Department. The House rose at 10.40 p m.