POLITICAL NOTES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 240, 24 September 1914, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

! INCREASED RACING PERMITS. ! [BY TELEGHAPII SPECIAL.] * Wellington, Sept. 24. > Much time was occupied yesterday • in discussion on Mr Hunter’s Gaming i- Bill which provided for an increase ■ in the number of totalisator permits - by 30, of which 17 were to go to > Racing Clubs, ten to Hunt Clubs, ' anti three to Trotting Clubs. The ■ discussion developed in Committee 5 into a long and wordy debate as to ■ the respective claims of hunting and I trotting interests. North Island ■ members maintained that Hunt 1 Clubs did more to encourage the ' breed of a useful class of horses 1 than Trotting Clubs. South Island members stoutly defended Trotting Clubs. After much discussion it was ’’proposed as a compromise that the allocation should be amended by deducting two permits, each from Racing and Hunt Clubs, and adding four to Trotting Clubs, this making the respective proportions 15. 8, and 7. Advocates for Trotting Clubs

stuck out for eight and a deadlock appeared to have been reached. 1 Mr. Fisher, however, came to the | rescue with a suggestion that the total number of extra permits should I be 31, and that they be allocated as follows: Racing ]5. Hunt and Trotting eight each. This was agreed to and in this form the Bill passed its final stages just before midnight. Mr. Hunter was heartily applauded by supporters of the Bill when its passage was placed beyond doubt. COOK ISLANDS. A FORMIDABLE BILL. Wellington, Sept. 24. The Cook Islands Bill, introduced yesterday, contains 675 clauses, and is stated to be the longest bill yet introduced into the New Zealand Parliament.

The bill, which is in charge of the Hon. Dr. Pomare, deals with a variety of matters, including the constitution and procedure of the Island Council, civil and criminal courts, the public revenues, public health, prisons and police, education, and means of communication between the islands. The constitution of the various courts is similar to those of New’ Zealand courts, certain modifications being made to suit the circumstances of the islands. Provision is made for the setting up

of magistrates’ and high courts in the islands, and the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Supreme Court is also extended to the islands. Hitherto judgments obtained in the

New Zealand courts have not been enforceable in the islands, but this I defect is remedied by the bill, and I provision is made for the extradition of absconding debtors and others from the islands to New Zealand and vice versa. Provision is made for the setting up of a Native Land Court on the lines of the New Zealand court. Power is also given to the Minister to establish schools m the islands.

Important proposals in tegard to the use of intoxicating liquors are embodied in the bill. It provides that no native shall be supplied with any liquor except on a doctor’s order. The manufacture of intoxicating liquor in the islands is absolutely prohibited under pain of a penalty not exceeding a fine of £lOO or a term of three months’ imprisonment. The importation and sale of liquor by private persons is also prohibited. The Resident Commissioners may import liquor and sell it to Europeans, but not to natives, except for medicinal purposes. A form of State control is thus proposed. Provision is made for the appointment in New Zealand of a secretary for the Cook Islands, and for separate resident commissioners and deputy commissioners at bqth Raratonga and Niue. Chief medical officers shall be stationed at Raratonga and Niue, and provision is made _for such assistant medical officers as may be required. The Resident Commissioner at Raratonga shall have jurisdiction over all the other islands except Niue. Power is taken to appoint resident agents at any of the smaller islands. Provision is made for the establishment of prisons and the appointment of gaolers and policeThe acquisition of a ship .to be sta tioned at Raratonga for carrying on a service between the islands is provided for.

Legislative councils, to be known as island councils, are to be established at Raratonga and Niue. These bodies are to be partly elective and partly nominative. The councils shall have power to make laws or ordinances which must not be repugnant to New Zealand laws. A high court with one or more judges is to be established, and its judgments may be enforced in the Supreme Court of New Zealand. There will also be a right of appeal to the Supreme Court. The calendar in the islands shall be one day behind the calendar in New Zealand.