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

Sr. Poinare: 'As often as they'can; probably once or twice a year in some cases. There was also a . dispensary on each island. The difficulty was to get medical men t-o go to the islands. 'Advertisements had been inserted in New Zealand papers for them, and. not one response, had been received. He refuted a statement that the products of the islands had gradually decreased. If that was so how had the exports and imports increased? There was a threefold increase during the past few years, and the revenue had also gone 'tip. During the past ten years the products had increased by 100 per cent. The question of roads in the islands was provided for in the Bill, and the need ■for the erection of a wireless station there was being kept steadily in view by the Postmaster-General. It was true that-the soqial ; evil was prevalent in the islands,: but was there any country in which they did not have the .social evil?' New countries, which had recently come under civilisation, were more, affected. Tho'' : matter was adequately provided for in the \Bill. He said thai there was no need:for alarm,for 1 the medical men had cleared the disease up in a wonderful way. Tho Bill had. been subjected to a thorough investigation, and if any defects still eiisted. in it they could he remedied. '; IN COMMITTEE, i PROTECTING THE CHILDREN/. The Bill was committed. Mr. C. H. Poole . (Auckland West) asked if steps were taken in the Bill to safeguard the children against inoculation which led to a certain disease? ' The Hon. Dr. Pomare said that the inedical men were looking into the question raised. ~ , _ ' Mr. A. E. Glover (Auckland Cen- . tral) entered a protest against the high Court charges imposed on the natives. Mr. A. p. Hindmarsh (Wellington South) • moved an amendment to Clause 159, giving greater power to appeal from the High Court. His amendment was that appeal should bo given as a . right when the fine imposed ex- ' ceeded £100, or the term of imprisonment exceeded sis months. ' The Hon.' Dr. Pomare said that •Jie was willing . .to accept the amendment, subject to there being jno legal' difficulty. Ho promised to consult the Attorney-General. I Clause 531, dealing with divorce, was timehdcd on the lines set cut by. the Attorney-General. I' Several other alterations, as previously indicated,'were made in tho divorce section of t'he Bill. The Hon. Dr. Pomare said- that one amendment provided that the Coolc Islands 'Court had no jurisdiction oyer a white man seeking divorce. A white man would have to come to New Zealand to gain a divorce! * The clause was struck out..

. The Liquor Caws. . . ■ " On' the section dealing with' intoxicating liquor, Mr. L. M. Isitt Christchurch North) referred to a case where the Natives of Niue Island had made an application that iio liquor should bo imported into the Islands. ! The Hon. Dr. Pomare said- that it >was not a general wish. Europeans were allowed to have liquor, but it was under control, and it could not ho given to the Natives. The Natives were not being injured by; the Europeans getting liquorMr. R. 'A\ Wright (Wellington Suburbs) said that if it was true that the Natives of Niue had asked for total prohibition it seemed only reasonable that it should be granted. There was no evidenoe to show that tile forty-six white people on the island would object to t'he prohibition clause. The Position In Niue. The Hon. Dr. Pomare, in reply, • said- "The Natives wanted total prohibition! Very well; why'did they want it? Was it because they did not want the Europeans to have liquor? If it was becauso they did not want the Natives to have liquor,-they had got their wish. Liquor was not supplied to tlio Natives except under a medical certificate. Very well, then, why'interfere with tho liberty of tho white people there, especially when it was not known whether they wanted it or not? It was for the white people in the island to say whether they wanted 1 the liquor. • If they did not, thevy did not order it. It was always under control of the Customs officer, so the thing .was perfectly safe." _ Mr. Isitt said that wheu 4000 peoplo in the island asked to prevent degradation by drunkenness it was a prayer that should bo responded to. Ho thought this question should not be regarded. as' teetotalism versus moderate drinking, especially when it was known the hanri liquor had done to native races. - Mr. C. H. Poole (Auckland "West) :• said j&at the least the .white people

could do there was to forgo their Claim for liquor in the interests of the 4000 natives.

The Hon. Dr. Pomarc asked would the Committee bo willing to let the Bill go through as it stood, and allow him to- communicate with • tho Europeans there, and get their opinions? Amendments could bo brought in next year. If the Europeans agreed to do away with it, they could make tho amendment. There" had been no petition to him. Ho understood _ ono of tho natives brought it up in their Council. and the others treated it as a. joke.

Natives Well Protected. The Hon. A. L. Herdman said that they did not want to hold the Bill up while they communicated with_ Nine. Tho natives were well protected in the islands (fifteen in number), and he did not think it would, be desirable to havo a different law for Niue.

Mr. Wright suggested ' that all the peoplo in tho island should be allowed to. decide by a poll.

Tho Hon. Dr. Pomare: The natives don't want it, and they don't get it; then why penalise the white people? Mr. Hindmarsh said that he would vote to respect the wishes of the people on tho island. :

Bli-., Glover said that the natives could get iio liquor beyond what tliey made.' Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East) said that there was a shocking

kind of drunkenness going oh. in KaTOtonga-. Smuggling was carried on, and it did not redound to the crcdit _to tlio Government that so much drinking occurred. •, In Rarotonga alone _ there wero 251 charges of illicit drinking. Mr. J. A Hanan (Invercargill) suggested that tho Minister should have a thorough investigation, and consult tho natives and the Europeans.' The Hon. Dr. Pomare agreed to have such aii. inquiry made at Niue. • '"-Mr." Isitt: "I shall bb quite satisfied if the Minister inquires of the Council." He said that'tho motion to the Native Council was not made in a spirit of levitv. The clauses were passed without further discussion. Tho Bill, comprising 666 clauses, was put through Committee by 9.6 p.m., and reported with amendments. y iTRADINC WITH THE ENEMY. The amendments. of the Legislative Council to the Trading with tho Enemy Amendment Bill were agreed to. The House rose at 9.10 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday next.