EVENING SITTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1902, 26 July 1888, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30.p.m. FBBOEDENCB OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. On the motion of the Premier 4t was agreed that the Government business Bhoald take precedence on Thursdays after tb-mqrrow. .: . „ . ;i - ■■-.*<£' *BrLIiS PASSED.^ -v.'XA The Middle Island half caste grants, and Westland and Grey Education.; ■ Boards Bills were read a third time and passed, NATITE LAND BILL. ._ On the motion for the committal of the Native Land Bill, Sir George/Grey mored that the Bill be committed that day three months, on the goand that the Bill had been greatly altered by the committee to which It was referred. The Natives had received ho notice of the alteration: The Premier expreaaed surprise at Sir George Grey's attitude, seeing the original taxation had been modified. The Natives should receive fair notice that they irera going to be taxed, for they mast remember that large Maori estates were blocking settlement just, as maoh as any land monopoly. The natives could not expect much longer to escape their natural burdens. He believed the Native Bills would prove acceptable to all the Maoris except those who had exaggerated ideas of what was du9 to them. .. .

Sir Georgo Grey raised the question that the Bill being one imposing taxation should have been introduced into Committee of the /Whole, -x ■? ■-;.. r The Speaker said when m Committee the Chairman could order any; of tha clauaea of a taxing nature to be held over, and properly introduced If he saw fit. After some farther dlscnßslon the amendment was lost by 54 to 12, and tho Bill ordered to be committed. Mr ricobla Mackenzie again raised the point mentioned by Sir George Grey. The Speaker admitted that the aaaal praotloe was to Introduce saoh a Bill ia aommittee bat it had not been strictly carried oat, Mr Mitohelsoit then moved that the i Native Land Oourt Bill be committed. Sir Georga Grey again protested. These bills would be absolutely ruinous to the Maoris whose lands would paja into the hands of a few favored Earopeanar fo?.an Aitee Mr Tai whang* had spoken for an hour ohiefly on Maori history, the mjtioa was agreed to. - > • The L%qA A<rt Amendin3nti .Bill «r«| QQqfid,eted iq QoqjmUtee^