COOK ISLANDS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 203, 1 October 1914, Page 11

COOK ISLANDS.

IMPORTANT MEASURE. NEED FOR MATURE CONSIDERATION. [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 31. In moving the second reading of the Cook Islands Bill in the House of Representatives this afternoon the Hon. Dr. Pomare said he did not want to criticise previous Ministers who had had charge of the Islands; He believed they had done their best to remedy the difficulties,which.had existed at various times. The Minister explained, the measure (which contains 67-9 clauses) at some length. Among other matters he pointed out that the position of Civil Servants appointed to the Cook Islands would be considerably improved, as under the Bill a year's service in the Islands would count as a year and a half. Speaking of the education proposals in the Bill, the Minister said that the proposal to establish schools was the first real attempt ever made at an effective education"" system in the Islands. The whole object of the Bill was to consolidate the laws and make them as much like the New Zealand laws as practicable. The manufacture of bush beer was absolutely prohibited, and the liquor legislation meant that State control would be established. The possibility of Natives obtaining liquor was reduced . to a minimum. PBEDICTIONS UNFULFILLED. Sir Joseph Ward said he regarded the Bill as a most important one. There had been a great fight over the Bill which brought the Cook Islands under New Zealand control, and it was remarkable that members of the present Government had very strongly opposed the course which was then taken. Sir Joseph quoted Mr Allen's speech in 1901, which was full of regret at the step New Zealand was then taking. All these predictions of disaster made by the Seddon Government's opponents had been false. Time had had its revenge, and shown the wonderful foresight, particularly of the late Mr Seddon himself. Turning to the Bill, Sir Joseph Ward

asked the Prime Minister, in all seriousness, if he realised what was proloosed under the Bill. No country in ■the world would put some of the clauses in the Bill without very mature consideration. They had to remember that they were dealing with the present and future conditions of the Natives. For instance, there was no proposal under the Bill for trial by jury, of a native for murder. The Minister: A trial by assessors. Sir Joseph Ward said that was not the same thing. There was all the difference between daylight and dark between assessors and.a jury of free men. He maintained that the Bill was of such'a nature and of such huge proportions that it should have been referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Attorney-General (Hon. A. L. Herdman) said there was no objection to sending the Bill to a committee, and he believed the best one would be the Statutes Revision Committee. When the House resumed in the evening'the Prime Minister stated that it had become necessary for him to move the adjournment of the House. He therefore suggested that the debate on the Bill should be postponed and the Bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Members would have another opportunity of speaking on the measure in Committee and on the thii'd reading. ' The Leader of the Opposition and members of the House concurred, and the discussion was adjourned.