PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 54, 25 August 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. A debate on Sir Maurice O'Rorke's motion for the settlement of pensioners on the land along the Month Island Main Trunk railway was negatived by 10 to 5. After the Hon. Messrs. Beehan and Aiistey had spoken in opposition, the Council adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. The Papakaio Water-race District Validation Bill, designed to remove all doubts as. to the legality of matters connected with the Papakaio ■water-race district was read a second time. RAROTONGAN MATTERS. The report of the Chief Justice on the charges against the administration of llarotonga came up for consideration. Mr. Wright said the report was most | unsatisfactory. Petitioners, who had asked for an inquiry, wanted their evidence taken on oath with open doors. The report was an unfair, unjust and biassed one. The natives of the Islands were, he submitted, afraid of the power of the Government, hence their 'unwillingness to come forward and given evidence with regard to the administration of the hospital. He held that the hospital was not kept in a condition fit for the performance of operations. In connection with alcoholic liquor on the Islands, he maintained the law concerning this matter was not enforced and it was on account of his endeavors to enforce this law that Mr, Reynolds was dismissed. The lagoon was a. menace to public health, and should be drained. With regard to the auditor, Twiss was the bodyguard of Smith and therefore should not be allowed to audit the latter's accounts. He moved that the report 'be referred back to the Chief Justice for further consideration.

Mr. Hardy seconded the motion. Sir James Carroll said nothing humanely possible would satisfy Mr, Wright in this matter. They roeogidsed they had certain responsibilities to .discharge in connection with the administration of the Islands, and he strongly objected to the matter being made a channel for party politics. Thare had been nothing specific in the (bsrges the administration. Practically the whole trouble y>s that "Dr. Dawpon could not get on with Captain Smith. From what lie had been informed, the sanitation was good. Many of the conthe natives of the Islands compared favorably with the '-onditions obtaining in New Zealand, 'n his opinion the nature of the charges were ridiculous. Political feeling had something to do with them. Malcontents were stirring tip strife. When the charges were

analysed, they were found to emanate from three .persons. It was quite clear that Mr. Reynolds had tried to dictate to the Resident Commissioner, fnd the result was the termination of his en"nsrement. Sir James Carroll said he believed in establishing educational facilities on the Islands. The matter demanded the attention of New Zealand legislators. Medical matters also required earnest consideration, and the health of the natives required special attention. This was the whole r,o?'ficn. He was in communication with the High Commissioner in London with a virw to obtaining the services of a young medical man well up in tropical diseases to go to the Islands. They were arranging for a doctor to go the round of all the islands of the group. Dr. Dawson va& offered the official position at Nine, Jut he preferred to go to Rarotonja to start a private practice. Considerable improvement had been made in the management of the Islands since Captain Smith went there. Mr. Allen said a great deal of what was alleged had been proved. The Resident Commissioner was not competent to deal with matters of justice or knd court matters at the Islands. He charged the Government with having utilised the Chief Justice for purposes which he ought not to have been for. It was not right that the Chief Justice should be asked to pronounce judpmr on the Government. Continuing, 1: • said Mr. Smith had no knorthdge of the language or customs of the natives. He complained of the policy of "r-r'noa" in connection with the administration of the Polvnesian question.. Mr. Te Rangihiroa (Dr. Buck) said the

complaints had been grossly exaggerated, and he wondered if so much notice would have been taken of the report had it not been given a political aspect. Mr. Stallworthy thought the Chief Justice's report a very fair one. The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30. The Hon. G. Fowkls, referring to Mr. Wright's statement re the Cook Islands administration report, said that the litlte bickerings of a small community had been very much magnified. A saner or straighter and more sober statement than that presented by the Chief Justice could not be possible. The report had been received with .satisfaction throughout the country. The conditions at the Islands had greatly improved of recent years since New Zealand took over the administration. Mr. Massey said that in connection with this matter the country had taken up the black man's burden." They had not done their duty in the matter, nor

had they taken up their responsibilities. During recent years there had been much dissatisfaction expressed in the administration of the Cook Islands. He did

not think it right to have appointed Sir Robert Stout as Commissioner for such work as lie was required to perform. He (Mr. Mnssey) maintained with regret that the Chief Justice was far too fond in recent years of secret inquiries. The country was sick of star chamber inquiries, and more would be heard of the matter before the end of the session. He deeply regretted that judges were [brought into the arena of politics. The report submitted was a report of counsel for the defence, rather than that of a Commissioner. In the matter of education he held that if it were possible for the London Missionary Society and the St. Joseph nuns to find money for the purposes of education, nurely the New Zealand Government,] who controlled 'the Islands, could do so.' lie did not reflect on the present ad-l

ministration of the Cook Islands. In his opinion, a proper inquiry with open / doors and the admittance o£ the press | should be held. I Mr. Glover held that the report was a J very satisfactory one. 1 Air. Laurenson did not think there was *■ anything in the alleged charges ol ' maladministration. He was greatly concerned with the 'brutal and personal attacks made against the Chief Justice. If charges were to be made against any of our judges, they should be made straightforwardly on the floor of the House and not by suggestion and innuendo. The Hon. Mr. Ngata. po'nted out that it was impossible for the revenue of the, Oook Islands to withstand the strains that would be put upon it if some of the suggestions as mentioned by members were put into effect. He would suggest before it was too late, and Ibefore all sorts of acts and conditions were introduced into the Islands, that all the intruders should be deported from Rarotonga and the Rarotongans left to themselves. He did not think that matters would he allowed to lie where they were, but would be brought up continually. The report of Sir Robert Stout was deserving of a good deal of respect. Mr. Poole said that the Chief Justice had come out of the attack made on him with credit to himself. He would not support the motion to refer the report back to the Chief Justice, as such a course would be a reflection on his in- ' tegrity and judgment, and not in keeping with the dignity of the House. Mr. -Russell held'that while New Zen- 1 land had annexed the Islands, they had 1 never done their duty towards the inhabitants of them. Mr. Wright, in reply, said the fact.of [ the matter was that' the Chief Justice ! had been brought into the matter by the " Government and given instructions. Probably some of the charges were not grave, but graver charges would have ' been 'brought had a proper inquiry been set up. The wish of the natives that ' there should be white representation on 5 the Federal Council should, be complied e with.

The motion was negatived on the voices. The House rose at 11.35 p.m.