POLITICAL NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1932, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

A suggestion that though the actions of past Governments in ignoring the main : principles embodied in the Treaty of AVaitangi, the Maori people were fast becoming a dispossessed. race, was made in the House to-day by Mr Tuikiathene (Southern Maori). Mr Tirikatene gave, notice to ask' whether it was the intention of the Government to give the -House -an opportunity this session to discuss- the Treaty of AVaitangi with a view to restoring to the Maori race the sacred rights and privileges .embodied in that Treaty, “which long had been denied the Maori race, thereby imposing untold suffering upon them.” • OPOSSUMS A PEST. The opossum is becoming a pest in exotic forests, according to the annual report of the State Forest 'Service, which was presented to Parliament today. This animal favours oeirtain pine species to the exclusion of others, ainct it became necessary to obtain a special .permit to deal with the animal in certain areas. Four hupdred were killed. Through shortage of funds the campaign against animal pests has been curtailed, but 32,000, principally rabbits and hares, have been accounted for. In addition 7612 deer tails have been collected by the Department of Internal Affairs. DANGEROUS PATIENTS. Whether it is the intention of the Government to make early provision oi a separate! Dominion institution for the safe ‘and -appropiate custody of socalled dangerous patients, as recommended by the 'lnspector-General oi, Mental Hospitals, was a question 'asked by /Mr Carr. (Timaru) in the House today. Mr Carr said the InspectorGeneral’s report regarded such provision as “becoming increasingly desirable” and proceeded: “The great majority ar e mot violent or dangerous patients if provided with proper occupation, environment- and treatment, and are note infrequently amongst tile most amenable and industrious. On the other hand, in every institution there is a small proportion .whose abnormal .proclivities render them a source oi danger. The results of their detention in an ordinary mental hospital are doubly unfortunate. Th e number is not- 'large,,, certainly not more than a hundred, but their segregation in this way would be- of manifest advantage.’ ’ *■ . ’

CONSTITUTION of juries. Allegations of jury packing in the Edwards case are contained in a question placed on the order paper of the House by Mr Parry (Labot?*; Auckland Central), who. is asking the Minister of Justice “whether, in view of the de liberate jury, packing resorted to b.V the 'Crown- in the qa&e against James Edwards at Auckland recently, he will take steps to preserve the fundamental justice of the jury system 'by forbidding Crown prosecutors to pack juries for the purpose of securing verdicts against accused persons, and whether he will introduce legislation this session to place the Crown on the same footing as th e accused in the matter of tlhe number of jurors to be stood aside' or challenged.” $ .