ELECTION SPEECH PRIVILEGE

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 October 1946, Page 5

ELECTION SPEECH PRIVILEGE

QUESTION IN HOUSE

(P.A.) Parliament Bldgs.. Oct. 3. At question time in the House of Representatives to-day, Mr. C. M.

Bowden, on behalf of Mr. G. H. Mackley (Opp.. Masterion) gave notice to ask lhe Prime Minister whether he would arrange that candidates for ■Parliament who desire to address members of the Government service

on Government premises during the forthcoming election campaign will be given the necessary permission to do so. A note to the question said that, according to a notification circulated amongst the railway staff at Wellington, the Prime Minister was to address a meeting in the- Wellington goods shed on September 24. Mr. J. Thorn (Govt., Thames): rt was a good speech, too. FIRE QUERY Mr. S. W. Smith (Opp., Bay of Islands) gave notice to ask the Minister in charge of war assets whether stock sheets containing the complete lists of goods, equipment and machinery destroyed by fire at Rongotal were also destroyed in that fire. Was it a fact that, no duplicate had been kept elsewhere ? MAORI BILLS Two measures dealing with Maori trusts, the Papawai and Kaikokirikiri Trusts Amendment Bill and the Otaki and Porirua Trusts Amendment Bill, were introduced and read a first time. The Prime Minister. Mr. P. Fraser, said the main Bills were previously before the House. These Bills dealt with Anglican trusts which had been of more benefit to non-Anglicans than Anglicans. There was complete agreement in regard to the two Bills. COOK ISLANDS The Cook Islands Amendment Bill, which was also introduced, authorises the establishment of a Legislative Council and a Native Appellate Court of the Cook Islands. The Bill also provides for land development in the territory. The Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Mr. Fraser said the Native Appellate Court would deal with appeals instead of their having to come to New Zealand. Two judges would be in the Cook Islands. The clauses dealing with land development were designed to assist the citrus replanting scheme.

The Bill states that the Resident Commissioner of Rarotonga, acting with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council of the Cook Islands, may make ordinances for the peace, order and good government of the Cook Islands, other than Niue. The Council shall consist of 10 unofficial members elected by island councils, and official members comprising the Resident Commissioner and 10 other persons. Regulations may be made as to the mode of electing the unofficial members. The Native Appellate Court shall comprise judges of the Native Land Court of the Cook Islands and such judges, if any, of the Native Land Court of New Zealand as the Gover-nor-General may appoint. Any two or more of the judges, other than the judge who determined the matter in dispute, shall have the power to act as a Native Appellate Court. MAREO PETITION Mr. W. Coleman (Govt., Gisborne), on behalf of the Statutes Revision Committee, reported on the petition of Canon W. W. Averill and others praying for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the case of Erico Mareo. The committee recommended that as the member who had presented the petition had requested leave to withdraw it, he should have to do so.