KING COUNTRY TOWNSHIPS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 99, 18 September 1908, Page 2

KING COUNTRY TOWNSHIPS.

Debate in Parliament. BY TELEGRAPri. (Own Correspondent) M Wellington, Thursday. In the debate on Tuesday evening on the Loans to Local Bodies Bill Mr Jennings very forcibly placed before theHouse the extraordinary position residents of the King Country townships were in owing to the conditions govern ing Maori townships. ( He said people in To Kuiti, Taumaranui and other townships might as well be in Kamsobatka, so far as getting any benefit was concerned. Legislation waa passed for people in other parts of the Dominion. He could not understand why people in these Maori towriShipß were harassed by Public Health Inspectors and others, when residents had no 1 tower to raise monies, either from the Government or other sources, owing to the anomaly created by Maori laws which governed the townships in, the King Country. ' A general debate on King Country matters ensued, in which Messrs Ngata and Ell took part. The former admitted the present positon could not be maintained, andMr Ell said the discontent was owing to the tenure question. The Premier said he was willing to accept any amendment to the Bill that would assist the position * complained of by Mr Jennings. The Native Minister, in an interview with the Member, said he waa desirous of meeting the King Country deputation as soon as possible. The Government has decided to Bet up a Royal Commission to enquire Into the question of foreign timber importation. This action deals with petitions sent from Otorohanga, Mangapeehi, and Taumaranui sawmill workers and others.