PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18608, 2 July 1930, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press A<wocia.iion. WELLINGTON, July 1. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Leave of Absence. Fourteen days’ leave of absence was granted to the deputy Leader, Hon. R. A. Masters. Sir Maui Pomare. The Leader of the Council, Sir T. K. Sidey moved a motion expressing appreciation of the services rendered to the country by the late Sir Maui Pomare. Sir Thomas Sidey paid a warm tribute to the many outstanding qualities of the late Sir Maui, mentioning his outstanding success as an Administrator, and his genial personality and his great work in the interests of the Maori race. Speaking as ex-colleague, Sir F. D. Bell said members of the late Reform Administrataion greatly deplored Sir Maui’s death, as he had endeared himself to all by his happy mode of life, his generosity, and his capabilities as a Minister of the Crown. They joined in expressing to Lady Pomare their profound sympathy. The Hon. G. J. Garland and W. E. Collins also spoke appreciatively of the late Sir Maui Pomare. Sir T. K. Sidey also moved a motion of sympathy to the relatives of the late Mr A. F. Lowe, former Clerk of Parliament. He said to know Mr Lowe was to love him. and his death had come as a severe blow to them all. After other Councillors had spoken, the Council adjourned at 3.20 p.m. until 2.30 to-morrow. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 to-day. Notice of New Bills. Notice was given of intention to Introduce the following Bills:—Census Postponement Bill (Hon. P. A. de la Perelle), Apprentices Amendment Bui (Hon. S. G. Smith), Scaffolding and Excavation Amendment Bill (Hon. S. G. Smith), Nurses and Midwives Registration Amendment Bill (Hon. A. J. Stallworthy), Workers’ Annual Leave Bill (Mr D. G. Sullivan), and Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill (Mr F. Langstone). Address-in-Reply. The Leader of the Labour Party asked the Prime Minister if he would consult with the Leader of the Opposition and himself, with a -tew to concluding the Address-in-Reply debate this week, so that next week the House might proceed with important legislation bearing upon unemployment and also other business of an urgent nature. It appeared that the debate on the Ad-dress-in-Reply would drag out for a fortnight, or possibly three weeks, unless something were done, and the Prime Minister would agree there was a real need for getting on with very necessary measures, some of which, he understood, were ready to be presented.

The Prime Minister said the Government would be only too pleased to have the business of the session facilitated, and would be willing to get the Address-in-Reply out of the way, but they must recognise that many members had matters which they considered of importance to bring up in that debate. He was prepared to agree to anything within reasonable bounds if the other parties were willing to assist. So far as the Government was concerned, there need be no fear of their dragging out the debate for two or three weeks. They were very anxious to get on with business, as there was a good deal of an urgent nature to get on with. Commissioner of Police. Mr A. M. Samuel (Thames) asked whether the Prime Minister would answer the persistent rumours in connection with the resignation of the Commissioner of Police. It had been rumoured that there had been interference in the Department, and that statutory authority had been overruled. He asked the Prime Minister to allay these rumours. The Prime Minister said that to questions of interference and overriding of statutory authority he would give unqualified denials, and would ask the Minister of Justice to make a statement. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe said that on Saturday he received a letter from Mr Mcllveney conveying his resignation, and the Government had accepted it. No reasons had been given. Cancer Fund. Replying to Mr H. T. Armstrong, the Hon. G. W. Forbes stated that the Government had already decided to introduce legislation to enable Harbour Boards to contribute to cancer campaign funds, and was also considering validation of Harbour Board grants to unemployment relief funds. Replying to Mr J. T. Hogan, the Hon. W. A. Veitch stated that he regretted that, owing to the importation of new machinery having been completed, and arrears of repair work having been reduced, it was necessary to dispense with the services of a number of railway employees. Leave of Absence. Sir Joseph Ward was granted four weeks leave of absence, on account of illness. Family Allowances Bill. Mr W. E. Barnard, in introducing the Family Allowances Amendment Bill, stated that it was desired to grant the mother the right to apply for the allowance. The Bill was read a first time. Sir Maui Pomare. The Hon. G. W. Forbes moved that the House record its high sense of the distinguished services rendered to New Zealand by the late Sir Maui Pomare, and respectfully tender its sympathy to Lady Pomare and family. The Prime Minister, after outlining Sir Maui Pomare’s career, stated that news of his death had been received throughout the country with very great regret. Sir Maui Pomare had put up a great fight against illness that had reduced him in strength. He had hoped that a trip to California would have restored his health, but unfortunately for New Zealand he had noi been successful. There had been many representatives of the Maori race in the New Zealand Parliament, Mr Forbes continued, and the House had every reason to be proud of them. They had invariably shown themselves possessed of ability and a firm grasp of the affairs of country. The sympathy of the whole House would go out to Lady Pomare and family. The Hon. J. G. Coates, who seconded the motion, declared that Pakeha and Maori had lost a friend and lost a guide, counsellor and comforter. The greater portion of Sir Maui Pomare’s life had been given unselfishly to work on behalf of his people. Only those closely associated with the Maori people could realise with what energy, ability and tact Sir Maui Pomare had set out to educate the Maoris to appreciate the necessity of safeguarding their health to preserve their race. Sir Maui’s advice to his friends, to the Prime Minister, and to the Government, had been of the greatest value. Other representatives of the Maori race had been closely associated with Sir Maui Pomare, who was largely responsible for the fact that Maori questions were never regarded as party issues. Mr Coates paid a warm tribute to Sir Maui Pomare’s wonderful effort in in pin ting the segregation of leners at Ma.koga, and added that as a result of this trving task, which had been accomDlished with characteristic tact and svmpathv. the disease bad been virtually stamped out in the Cook

Islands, and a large percentage of those removed had been cured. Mr H. E. Holland said every section of the House would associate itself with Mr Forbes and Mr Coates in extending sympathy to the relatives, and mourning the passing of one of the most picturesque figures of the New Zealand Parliament. Sir Maui Pomare had been one of the most efficient Ministers, at least during Mr H«lland‘s term as a member of the House, and his work among the Cook Islanders in bringing hope into many lives and making possible wonderful cures which had been achieved only by untiring effort and the expenditure of a greav amount of energy. A very great step forward had been made, added Mr Holland, when Maoris had been admitted to the New Zealand Parliament. The Maoris had lived up to its best traditions, and had fully justified the step. Mr Holland extended the greatest sympathy to the Maori race .remarking “Their loss is our loss, and we join with them in mourning his death.” Sir A. T. Ngata, after referring to requests that Sir Maui Pomare’s remains should be brought back for burial in his own country, paid a tribute to Sir Maui’s work as a member of the Young Maori Party at a time when the race was faced by a decline in the population, and a people who had largely given up hope, together with his attitude on the part of the older generation of contempt for younger members desirous of being educated among the pakehas. Sir Maui Pomare had set out to introduce Pakeha laws of hygiene in Maori settlements, and with that end in view had studied medicine. -Sir Maui had specialised in health while other members of the Young Maori party had specialised in other directions. Having added a tribute to the manner in which Sir Maui Pomare had welded together many, and diverse tribes in his electorate. Sir A. T. Ngata joined in expressions of sympathy with the relatives. Other members, including Mr T. Hakitanara, Mr J. A. Young, Mr W. H. Field, Mr K. S. Williams and Mr A. M. Samuel associated themselves with the remarks of previous speakers. On the motion being carried the House adjourned at 4.5 p.m. till 2.30 to-morrow, as a mark of respect for the memory of the deceased legislator.