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Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2522, 24 July 1915, Page 7

if the natives. The cspeuso would not foe, heavy."■ - - • Easy Divorces? SIB JOSEPH WARD (Awar.ua) said that whatever the cost New Zealand must care for the health of the natives by sending medical officers there. Also ho thought no shipping company should be allowed to continue tlio practice of taking native workers to Tahiti if that practice was destroying the race. Referring to the Bill, he expressed general approval of it, hut he took exception to tlio clauses in the Bill relating to divorce. He : feared lest they should be used as a means of obtaining divorces easily. Dr. Pomare interjected that the objectionable clauses were to be ameuded. Sir Joseph Ward said'that if this clause were amended to conform with the New Zealand law, ho would be glad to assist tho passage of-the Bill through tlie House. It was a big Bill, and one that was urgently needed. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN (Attor-ney-General) said that ho did not think Sir Joseph Ward's fears about the Cook Islands divorce laws wero well grounded.. It was not intended that white people should take advantage of the Cook Islands laws to get easy divorces.' •The Bill was applicable only to natives Land Asiatics.- Europeans domiciled in tlie Cook Islands must come to Now Zealand and sue in the Supreme Court for divorce if they wished. This would be madS clear in amendments to he introduced. The Bill was a very important one, very badly needed, and. one Which;. would put, right the legislation anomalies which, had existed "oit' the Islands for a long time. Referring to the ravage's of disease in ■ the Islands, he said that it was no easy matter to get medical men to go to live on those Pacific Islands unless they were paid very high salaries! He realised .that' whatever the, cost, the medical aid should be procured, and he hoped that one effect of the'passing of the Bill Would he to ; stimulate interest _in the -affairs of. the group, and possibly to induce Parliament to be more liberal in providing for the needs of tho race', ' Increased Products. Tho Hon. Dll. POMARE (Minister in Charge of the' Cook Group) replied to a remark that no instruction had lieen given the Natives in agriculture. ■All -the Islands which had been complained of in that respect had received a. visit from the agricultural instructor. Pe agreed that any debt contracted by .Natives should be paid in full.' Proper protection'had "been given to the Native, and ;the Judge of the High Court could determine whether the debt incurred 'by the native was equitable. The outlying islands _ had not been neglected by the medical officers, and the rumours that found their way'down to New Zealand were groundless. Of course, there were difficulties, and one w<juld ; like to have an officer on' each island. .

' Mr. Isitt: How often do they, visit the' islands?: "