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1905. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellenty.

No. 1. Sib,— Niue, 19th May, 1904. I have the honour to forward to you herewith, for transmission to His Excellency the Governor, two Niue Island Ordinances, Nos. 12 and 13 —viz., "The Niue Island Traders' License Ordinance, 1904," and No. 13, "The Nine Island Suppression of Immorality Ordinance, 1904." Regarding "The Niue Island Traders' License Ordinance, 1904," it is desired that it should date from the Ist day of January, 1904, as the trading licenses under the Rarotonga Traders' License Ordinance expired on the 31st December, 1903. Ordinance No. 13, Niue Island Suppression of Immorality Ordinance: This Ordinance is introduced at the urgent request of the chiefs and elders of this island, who contend that since the suspension of the old laws consequent upon the establishment of administrative government by Mr. Percy Smith, immorality has greatly increased among the younger Natives, and there is no means at present of checking it. With reference to section 5, it was proved that Natives frequently return from other islands of the Pacific suffering from venereal disease, and infect others, thereby causing their deaths. In one instance recently three women died from this disease, which was communicated to them by a Native who returned from Samoa. lam reluctant to deal with a matter of this kind, as I do not think it is possible to render people virtuous by Act of Parliament j but this Ordinance is analogous to the CD. Act of New Zealand, and would enable some control to be exercised over this class of offenders. I have no doubt you will recognise that an Ordinance which would be quite inapplicable in New Zealand might be very suitable to a community of Polynesian islanders. These Ordinances should have reached you before, but Colonel Gudgeon, to whom they were sent for transmission to you, was of opinion that I should forward them direct. This view has now been confirmed by your letter, No. 26, of the 22nd March, 1904. I have, &c, C. F. Maxwell, Resident Commissioner, Niue. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister in Charge, Cook and other Islands, Wellington.

Enclosure. Ordinance No. 13. —"Niue Island Suppression of Immorality Ordinance, 1904." Niue Island Council. Whereas it is expedient that action be taken to suppress immorality on Niue Island, and prohibit Native women from proceeding to vessels at the anchorages for immoral purposes: Now therefore be it enacted by the Niue Island Council, with the approval of the Resident Commissioner, as follows: — 1. The Short Title of this Ordinance shall be " The Niue Island Suppression of Immorality Ordinance, 1904. 2. Any Native woman going off to a vessel at night for an immoral purpose, and passing the night or part of the night on board, shall be classed as a common prostitute, and, upon conviction before the Native Magistrate or Resident Commissioner, may be fined a sum not exceeding two pounds (£2), or in default of payment thereof sentenced to twenty (20) days' labour weeding roads, or to make hats or mats-to the amount of the fine. 3. Any person assisting or inducing any Native woman to go on board a vessel for an immoral purpose may be fined not exceeding two pounds (£2), or in default thereof sentenced to twenty (20) days' hard labour on the roads. 4. Youths and young women convicted of immorality may be sentenced to weed not exceeding fifty (50) fathoms each of the public roads.

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COOK AND OTHEE ISLANDS. fin continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-3, 1904.]