PARLIAMENTARY

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1114, 8 October 1904, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

Bs Telegraph.—Prew Awooiation. Wkhjkoton. this day. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Yestbrday Tns Council mob at 2.30, MAOEI CURIOS

Tho Maori Antiquities Aot Amendment Bill was commuted,

Mr. l'itt moved the following new clause, which repeals section 2 of the principal Act: "This Act, if not inconsistent with tho contaxt of the term Maori Annuities, includes Maori relics, articles manulnciurod with ancient Maori tools, and uccording to Maori methods, and all other articles or tbtogs of historical or scientific value or interest and relating to New Zonland, but doos not includo any botanical or mineral collections or specimens," Without such a clause he said tho Bill was not worth twopence. The clause was agreed to on the voices, and tho Bill was reported. THE COOK ISLANDS

On the inotiou for tho seeoud reading o' the Cook and Other Islands Government Act Amendment Hill, Mr. Carncrasß contended that the Government was going too far in its attempt to civilise tho natives of the islands!, and a result of the legislation would be to'tnake the islanders regret that some other country than Now Zealand had not annoxed tho place. Mr Trask said if the Government paBS. Ed laws which tho arikis considered detrimental to them the Government womd bo sorry. He was afraid that the Cook Is-

tands wero not going to be of any benefit to this colony. Mr Mclean hoped that tho Bill would leave the Council in a very differentshapo thnti it was nt, present. He thought we wero going n step too fat in taking the management of their own affairs out of tho hands of the people of Karotonga. The debate was adjourned. The Council rose at 4.55.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES YESTERDAY Tho Houso mot at 2,80. NOXIOUS WEEDS

In Committee of supply on tho Lands and Survey Department Estimates, Mr Kirkbrido moved to rednco tho item: " Eradication of noxious weeds, £3OOO " by ,Cl. as an indication that inonoy should bo spent eradicating weeds on Crown lauds. He said thai out of 12000 voted last session only £lO2l bad been exponded. Tho Minister of Lands said there was not a singlo oomplaint that had not beon attended to, and ho had spent all the money Govornoieut could spend with profit in the eradication of weeds. After a discussion lasting an hour and 20 minutes, the motion for a reduction of the vote was negatived by 33 to 14. Mr Kirkbrido moved a reduction of i'l in tho item of foos to members of Waste Land Boards, i'lßoo, as ai indication that the Government should introduco legislation to give greater disorotionary powers to Boards in doaling with Crown tenants. After considerable debate Mr Kirkbrido withdrew hi 3 motion on the Minister giving bis assurance that tho Premier would bring in a Bill which would give members an opportunity of further discussiug the question.

The discussion thereafter became general on miscslleneous items and the committee at 5.30 adjourned until 7.30. Tho House resumed at 7.30. THE ESTIMATES

Thfl Eatiuiatos of Lands aud 3urvey> State Forests, Valuation, Advances to Settlers Departments, Defence Department, Government Insurance Department, and Government Aecidont Inßurance, were agreed to without alteration, and progress reported, The House rose at 2.5.