OUR POLITICIANS.

Northland Age, 13 September 1904, Page 3

OUR POLITICIANS.

(SALES OF TIMBERS. On the motion of Mr. Mander (Marsden), it w'as ordered, That there be. laid before the House a return of all kauri and other timbers in the North of Auckland sold each year during the last ten years, and the amount received for same. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. Mr. Buddo (Kaiapoi).—Tlie greatest training places for incorrigibles is persistent truancy. Children who are allowed to run wild in the streets are liable to drift into criminal courses, and Magistrates should have more power than they possess now in dealing with them. FREE RAILWAY PASSES. On the motion of Mr. Tile (Manawatu), it w'ns ordered, That there be laid before the House a return showing the number of free railway passes issued by the Government to others than members of British or colonial Legislatures, together with tlie cost thereof to the colony; such 'return to be for the financial year ending the 31st March, 1904.

LAJXD BOAKDS. Mr. Parata (Southern Maori District). —I think there should be an immediate, change in the appointments of members of Land Boards. The present system is not satisfactory to those interested in the land question. The difficulties in connection with Crown lands are also applicable to Native lands. I think there should be considerable amendment in the law r , and that not only Europeans interested in land but that the Natives should also have some voice in the appointment of these Boards. It is regrettable that no effort has been made to assimilate tbe laws with regard to Crown and Native lands.

MAORI COUNCILS. Mr. Moss (Ohinemuri). —The Maori Councils were a failure, so far as the European settler was concerned, and their titles did not induce settlement. The native owners neither liked nor trusted them, having in the past had sad experience of dealing with companies, and they failed to realise the difference between those companies and the Councils. He would support the reduction of the vote not only because the Councils w'ere a failure as far as settlement was concerned, but because they prolonged the system of communism, w’hich was the bane of the Maori and hindered his progress.