cuAP. 111] TREATMENT OF NATIVE RACES 1061
commencement of the principal Act can be repealed or
modified, and he can also apply to the Islands any law in
force in New Zealand either in whole or with modifications,
sxcepting the laws relating to alcoholic liquors, the Licences
Act, 1908, containing special provisions for this matter.
The Customs Tariff applies generally, but can be modified
by the Governor in Council. There is a High Court in the
Islands except Niue, and there used to be Ariki’s Courts,
which still exist except where there is a European Resident
Agent, who now exercises the powers formerly exercised by
such Courts. In 1903 Niue was placed under a separate
administration, and the High Court of the Cook Islands
ceased to have authority over it. The Islands have been
developed gradually, but every care has been taken to secure
to the natives their land, while they have been induced to
lease considerable areas in Rarotonga. The experience of
the Government is an interesting one, and so far has been
on the whole a marked success.
§ 4. AUSTRALIA
In the Commonwealth of Australia there has been little
trouble with regard to the treatment of aborigines since
responsible government in the Eastern States.
[n Tasmania the aboriginal has at last, since 1876, totally
disappeared. There are a few half-castes.
In New South Wales, which has legislated exhaustively in
1909 (Act No. 25), and Victoria, where there is an Act of 1890
(No. 1059), extended by an Act of 1910(No. 2257) tohalf-castes,
aborigines are fast vanishing, protected from an immediate
extinction only by the action of the State Governments,
which have bought them reserves adequate for their main-
tenance. In 1909 the expenditure of the two states was
£26,000 and £4,400 respectively for 7,000 and 265 aborigines.
In South Australia, on the other hand, the number of
aborigines in the northern territory is unknown; in any
case it must be very considerable, and the provisions made
for their control have, in view of the almost total lack of
administration in any but a small portion of that territory,
