PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 280, 24 November 1903, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

CBy Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.)

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WELLINGTON, Monday

WAITING ON THE HOUSE

While the House was discussing comparative trifles and occupying time that might have been spent much more profitably on the Public Works .Estimates, or on the early stages of the Supplementary Estimates, the elderly gentlemen .in "another place" wore being forced to maintain their lonts vigil till a much later hour than they have yet been kept out of their beds this session. It was the Appropriation Bill they were waiting for, and they met and met again, and yet again, each time to be assured by the Attorney-General that he "had good reason to believe the bill would soon reach' the Council," though as a mutter of fact it had not reached the House.

At twenty minutes to one Mr Carneross wanted to know why they could not adjourn till, saj, 10 o'clock, and get through the business decently.

The second member of the Executive in the Council, the Hon. Mahuta WJierowhero, .who was in a dangerous frame of mind, rose, and, with plenty of gesticulations, announced through .the interpreter that he wished to know whether they should go on with so many members, absent. "I should like to ask," he said, "why 'it is that so many have run away froi>. here and left us.' There whs no reply. The Speaker announced that lie would resume, the chair in nn hour. Mahuta wanted to make more speeches, but the interpreter apparently advised him he was out of order. Somebody whistled plaintively. "Far from the old folks at home." At half-past clever, last night eight Legislative Councillors, with solemnity, passed a resolution, on the motion of the Attorney-General, granting leave of absence, "for the remainder of I lie session," to (.he lions. 0. C. Bo wen, J. D. Ormond, E. C. .)". Slovens, ('.'. Lniiisson. .)'. T. Peacock. H. Scotland, and the Hon. Sir Henry Miller, on account of private business. .MAORI LAND LAWS. The Legislative Council met last night and considered the Maori Land Laws Amendment Bill. In moving its committal the -Attorney-General said that all parties of the Legislature representing the .Maori race were agreed that the bill was for the benefit of the Maoris, and all had agreed with the amendments by the Council's Native Committee.

The Hon. Tomoana expressed his opinion and .. approval of th*> bill, while the Hon. Mahuta said that though several things he desired were not included he would .support the bill. The Treaty of Waitangi was carefully preserved. When lie was asked to accept a scat in the Council he was told that ii was so wished in order that he could look into all matters affecting the natives and assist the. Government, and his thoughts naturally reverted to the Treaty of Waitangi. After the passing of the treaty he was at Waitara and elsewhere, and he had wondered why this institution of the law had not been considered, and had been allowed to stand over in committee.

A number of minor and machinery amendments recommended by the Native Affairs Committee were made. A new clause was added on the motion of the Attorney-General, providing that the taking of "native land by the Government for the purpose of any public works under the Public Works Act shall be deemed to be at all times to have been an alienation for the purpose of section 39 of the Native Land Act. under which the judge has power to correct errors. The bill was then reported and read a third time.