POLITICAL NOTES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11703, 1 November 1905, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES.

(From Our Parliamentary Special). (By Telegraph). MAORI LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT. WELLINGTON, October 31. The throwing out by the Legislative Council of the Maori Land Claims Adjustment and Laws_ Amendment Bill proved a severe shock to the Maori members, who voiced their feelings with great vigour when speaking on, the final stages of the Appropriation Bill. Mr Wi Pere, in fact, wept copiously, and shook his fist at several members of the Legislative Council who were watching the proceedings of the House from the gallery set apart for their use. Their protest was eloquently upheld by Mr A. L. D. Fraser, who said he could not allow the session to close without entering his protest against the way in which the Native Department is conducted. He pointed out that by the failure to. pass this bill thousands of acres we're left lying idle, that the caveat on them could not be removed, and he insinuated that if the Bill had been in the hands of anyone but the Native Minister it "would have met with a different fate. In he declared that the throwing out of the Bill was one of the most damnable* things that had ever been done to the native race and Europeans in the history of Parliament. Replying to these strictures the Hon. T. Carroll declared that the inclusion in the Bill of clauses moved by the Maori members was the' reason for its rejection, and he pointed out that he had particularly warned them against doing anything of the sort, as life realised the danger. The Prsmier promised that he would mako the Bill one of the first to be brought down next session, and there, perforce, the matter had to end.