M.L.C.'s IRONY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 401, 9 December 1932, Page 5

M.L.C.'s IRONY

("Post" Special Commissioner.)

SIR FRANCIS BELL RESENTS GOVT. ATTITUDE TO COUNCIL "SO WISE A GOVERNMENT"

Wellington, Thursday. A strong protest against the hasty passage of the Native Land Amendment Bill was made in the Legislative Council by Rt. Hon. Sir Francis Bell who has an unrivalled knowledge of the subject. The Government asked the Council to pass the measure in one sitting. Sir Francis said that Parliament was trustee for the Maoris and he regarded native legislation with more care than he did ordinary legislation. He deplored the fact that they did not have sufficient time to study the Bill adequately. There was no suggestion that the legislation was urgent and he thought that the Council should have demanded more time to investigate the measure. "So Wise a Government" "If the passage of the Bill was delayed until January we might be able to study it and to suggest, even to so wise a Government, something out of our ignorance that might be worthy of its temporary consideration," said Sir Francis. "We are not being given a chance of even exposing our ignorance." He added that apparently the Council was willing to accept anything without consideration, even so important a matter as the Bill before them. The proeedure being adopted was bringing the character of the Council into contempt.