21

A.—4

A letter from the British Eesident, enclosing certain papers connected with an inquiry instituted by him as to the diseases produced by intoxicating liquor among the Maori people, was received, and ordered to be printed. The House then adjourned till Friday, 30th July, 1897. Parliament met at 12 noon. All members present. Prayers. The Chairman read a letter received from the British Eesident, in reply to the Chairman's letter informing him that the Federal Court Bill had been rejected. The letter was ordered to be translated for consideration next meeting. Monday, 2nd August, 1897. The House met at 12 noon. All members present. Prayers. The translation of the British Eesident's letter, dated the 20th July, was presented to members also the translation of a letter, dated the 2nd August, from the British Eesident, informing Parliament that a petition, with thirty signatures, had been presented to him, asking for the passing of the Federal Court Bill. A letter was despatched to the British Eesident informing him that his letters were receiving due consideration. Parliament then adjourned till Friday, the 6th August, 1897.

Enclosure No. 2. Eepobt of the Select Committee on the Impobt Duty Amendment Bill. Order of Reference. —" That Messrs. J. M. Salmon, V. Moate, and Ngaropu be appointed a Select Committee to take evidence from the Hospital Board, and that they have also examined the Medical Officer." They do not consider it necessary to append the evidence to this report, as it consists largely of personal opinions as to the legality or otherwise of the regulations issued by the Board, and of reference to those previously issued by the Chief of the Government, all of which are secondary questions and of no relevacicy to the proposed amendment of the law. That the Import Duty Act of 1895 has been broken, and is still being broken, there cannot be a doubt. It provides that free treatment shall be given to all applicants within certain hours, which is not done. The Chairman of the Board states in his evidence that the Board's restriction upon the free treatment was made to provide against abuse. The Treasurer says that the treatment under the present Medical Officer is more costly than it was under that of Dr. Caldwell. No objection was made by any of the witnesses to the passage of the Bill. The chief reasons that influenced the Board in their action appear to be financial, and the questions raised are of a nature which, in the opinion of your Committee, may well be left to the decision of the public, by whom the Board is elected, and to whom it is answerable. The proposed amendment of the Act of 1895 will not abolish free treatment, but leave it to be provided or not provided by the Board in such manner and on such conditions as they may think most suitable and most likely to meet with public approval. If the Act be not amended it is clear that the Government and the Board will be placed in antagonism, which cannot fail to be injurious to the Hospital; and, taking all the circumstances into consideration, your Committee recommend that the amendment submitted to them should pass. Earotonga, 16th July, 1897. J. M. Salmon, Chairman.

Enclosure No. 3. Expoet Duty Amendment Act 1895 Amendment, 1897. Short Title.—" Import Duty Amendment Act, 1897 " (passed 22nd July, 1897). Wheeeas by "The Hospital Board Act, 1896," a Board was created for the management and control of the Cook Islands Hospital, and it is desirable that the Board should have full power to make regulations from time to time in accordance with the means at their disposal, and be subject in such matters only to the approval of the people by whom they are elected : Be it enacted by the British Eesident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands, — (1.) That section one of "The Import Duty Amendment Act, 1895," is hereby repealed, and the following substituted : " That a duty of one per centum shall be levied on all dutiable imports nto the Cook Islands, and the proceeds be applied to the maintenance of a hospital, to be known as the Cook Islands Hospital." Dated at Earotonga, this 22nd day of July, 1897. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Fbedeeick J. Moss, British Eesident.—26th July, 1897.