PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1018, 10 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thusday, August 9. BILLS. The St John’s College Removal Bill, Christchurch Cathedral Square Bill, and the Westland Education District SubDivision Bill were read a third time. The Guardian Trust and Executors Bill and the Mining Companies Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. DIRECT STEAM On the motion of the Hon Dr Pollen the following were appointed a Committee to sit with the Committee of the House on the direct steam question ;—Messs Hart, G. R. Johnson, Holmes, Acland, Menzies, Miller, Richmond, Robinson, Williamson and Pollen. CONFEDERATION AND ANNEXATION BILL Sir G. Whitmore and Dr Pollen spoke in support of the Bill, and the Hon Mr Richmond, Dr Grace, and the Hon Mr Scotland against it. The Hon Mr Oliver said the Bill was merely a declaratory measure, but he thought it desirable that it should be passed. The Bill was then passed through Committee. The Council rose at 4.15 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, August 9. The House met at 2.30. PRIVILEGE. The Hon Mr Dick moved a question of privilege. Mr Pish had sent to the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce certain information of what took place in the Telephone Committee before the report had been t made. The Committee’s communication had been sent back to Wellington and published in the Post. His chief object in bringing the matter up was to put a stop to such practices, and he would therefore make no motion on the point but the formal one of adjournment of the House. Sir G. Grey contended that the facts disclosed no breach. It was simply evidence that had been made use of. The Speaker ruled that it was clearly a breach of privilege to publish anything which transpired before a Committee. Mr Barron rose to a point of order, and the Speaker ruled the proper course wss to move that a breach of privilege had been committed, and then the publisher should be summoned to give up the name of his informant. Mr Montgomery thought it would be better not to waste time, as no good would come out of any further steps being taken. The Hon Major Atkinson said that was precisely what was proposed to be done. All that was wanted was to draw attention to the matter, with a view of showing that the practice was irregular, and should be checked. The motion was withdrawn fnd the matter dropped. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions Ministers said— That the Government had net considered the question of disfranchising Civil servants, railway and other Government employees ; but the question of the qualification of electors would have to be considered next session, and, At considered necessary, anyone would then have ah opportunity of bringing the subject forward. —That the Government recognised the value of the Neva Scotian settlers in New Zealand, but Nova Scotia was a colony like this, and its Government had immigration schemas in operation. It would therefore be wrong to hold out special inducements to emigration from that colony. On the other hand the Nova Scotian settlers now in the colony might have friends they wished to bring here, and the Government would consider what facilities could be provided to meet their case.—That the Government would consider favorably applications by the County Councils to have control of reserves used for gravel and stone quarry purposes, and also reserves for watering of stock.—That the Government would not consider a proposal to exempt from the property tax localities rated under the District Railways Act.—That in consequence of the press of business the Government did not expect being able to introduce this session the Amended Shipping and Seamen’s Act,

BILLS. The Settlers Land Bill was introduced and read a first time (Mr Oonolly). Captain Mackenzie moved the second reading of the Mataura Reserves Vesting Bill. —Carried.

The following Bills passed through Committee, and were reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed ;—City of Auckland Additional Loan; Waimate High School; Wellington Harbor Board Land and Reclamation; Mataura Reserves Vesting and Empowering Bill.

Direct steam service. Mr Driver moved —“ That a Select Committee be appointed, in terms of the resolution passed on the 7th August, to consider the proposals for a direct steam service between Great Britain and New Zealand; the Committee to consist of Messrs Rolleston, Johnston, Macandrew, Montgomery, Joyce, Sutton, W. 0. Buchanan, Swanson, George, and the mover, and that a report be made in one week. ” —Agreed to. IN COMMITTEE. The following Bills were considered in Committee: —Criminals Execution, Property Law Consolidation, and Chattels Securities Bills. Interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. IN COMMITTEE. The Chattels Securities Bill was reported with amendments, and ordered to be considered to-morrow. The other two Bills were reported as further considered. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Smith gave notice that ho would move, on the Native Land Amendment Act going into Committee, that the preemptive right of dealing with such lands be vested solely i n the Crown. NATIVE LAND AMENDMENT BILL.

The Hon Mr BkYce moved the second reading of the Native Land Law Amendment Bill. Its object was to improve the, present mode of dealing with these lands. It was necessary in the interest of the colony and of the natives that the proposed changes should be made. The present mode was a reproach to the colony. The New Zealand Parliament had always been conspicuous for its desire to do what was right and just in dealing with the native lands, and he was sure the proposals he had to make with this view would receive careful consideration. After reviewing the attempts made to deal with this subject since 1877, he said that the present mode was this : The would-be purchaser agreed with, say, three psrt.es supposed to be the owners, to sell their land at a given price. The purchaser then got the parties to apply to have the title investigated. Then the other parties interested were brought into the contest. Lawyers were employed on either side, and in that way great evil was wrought. The result of all this was that the terms sellers and non-sellers were freely used in Court, and the cases were protracted to a ruinous length. That he believed was the cause of much of the complications. It was also bad for the buyers, as these negotiations might go on for years, and although the cost fell often on the seller, that was not by any means always the case, for the loss not unfrequently fell on the purchasers themselves. He was now, as he

always had been, in favor of, the re. sumption of the pre-emptive right system; although he knew a strong feeling existed against him on this point. Despite the fact that the arrangements made with Maoris before the title was ascertained were illegal, it was, nevertheless, a fact that in many instances the bargain was confirmed by the Natives when the title was completed. He then went on to review the Government land purchase system, which he said had been greatly abused. He hoped the Bill before the House would cure the evils existing. It did not change the law as it existed, but only imposed penalties for breaches of the law. If that failed, then next year he would have to ask them to restore the pre-emptive right, even if a fresh loan were required for the purpose. The Bill

aimed at simplifying the Court proceedings by leaving it to the Maoris themselves to prove their title and keep the Europeans out of Court. His opinion was that while an intelligent lawyer who understood the subject ■ might' simplify matters, as a fact it was not done. The Bill left to the Court to ascertain the title by the best means it thought fit, and to adjourn the Court from place to place. It was the proceedings before Fraud Commissioners and not the monetary penalties he looked to to work a reform and stop illegal proceedings. By the

Nati e Committees Bill, which was next on the Order Paper, it was* proposed that these bodies should be enabled to assist the Court in arriving at a just valuation of the difficulty of ascertaining these titles. He moved the second reading of the Bill. Mr DeLautoub, spoke at considerable

length, criticising the native policy of the past, which he said had been a aeries of blundering and plundering. He was willing to believe that the House was desirous of making a fresh start, but he dreaded their ignorance. They were legislating how they would preserve ether people's preperty for their own use. This Bill would not have the beneficial effect Mr Bryce supposed. He interpreted the clause 10 to mean that if the deed could pass the Frauds Commissions it would be all right. That simply was an inducement for the rich to. chance it. Nothing short of imprisonment should be provided, as nothing short of that would be effectual in stopping pre-purchase before the title was ascertained. He would give all assistance in excluding lawyers from the Court in the ascertainment of native usuage, and also the prohibition ef the negotiation of the title before it had been ascertained.

Mr Tawhai said he liked the Bill, because it brought to light the many sins done in the past. He liked it .because it excluded the lawyers from the Land Court. He had also acted as a Land Court Assessor for many years. At that time lawyers were not allowed in . Court. Then they got through ten or more cases per week. Recently a Court sal at Cambridge, and with only two or three cases that Court lasted seven months; , He next referred to the LSOO penalty for breach of the Acij. In the case of wealthy individuals they would think nothing of it. Make the penalty two month’s imprisonment, and it would be better. The law breakers would come from the monied classes.

Mr Moss opposed the Bill. Mr Sutton and Mr Shaw supported the Bill, but the former objected, to clause 12, which allowed solicitors or Agents applying for .Government. • Colonel Trimble believed it would pay them to send Commissioners through the whole North Island. He did not say that imprisonment should not be imposed fpr breach of the law. »

Mr W. C. Buchanan supported the second reading, but pointed out a number of Committee amendments which he thought were required. Mr A. Macdonald opposed the Bill.

Mr. Stevens said he would move in Committee on amendment to protect existing equitable rights in regard to pending transactions. Mr Watt strongly supported the Bill. Mr Hursthouse moved the adjournment of the debate. Agreed to. House rose at 12.45.