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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3174, 31 August 1881, Page 2

Ma Henare Tomoana has introduced a bill into the House entitled the Native Committees' Empowering Bill for the purpose of legalising the existance of the self-con9titnted native courts that, for some time past, in every native district, have been unsurping functions that properly belong to Resident Magistrate and District Courts. We presume that duriog the passage of the bill through the House it will be shown that the measure proposed by Mr Tomoana is quite uncalled for, inasmuch as the existing law provides all that the Native Committees' Empowering Bill aims at. It is not so much fresh legislation that is demanded as the putting into operation of laws already in the statute book. For instance, " Tbe Native Circuits Court Act, 1858," provides for theappointmentand constitution of Assessors' Courts, defines their jurisdiction, and provides for appeal against their decicions to the Resident Magistrate's Court and a jury composed of half natives. The jurisdiction of the Assessors' Courts under this Act is very limited, but should it be deemed necessary this might be increased, and the law otherwise amended to meet the altered conditious of the natives. There is certainly no necessity for any other additional legislation on the subject