NATIVE LAND BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 48, 20 November 1907, Page 9

NATIVE LAND BILL.

'-' INTERESTO DISCUSSION.

■ : MAORI ELOQUENCE. ', CTOSTP'ONEMENT ADVOCATED. i • ■ The TJpper House spent a quiet afternoon yesterday on Local Bills, putting nine through Committee and reporting progress on ono. The piece de resistance, oil yesterday's order-paper in the House of Representatives was'the long-promised Native Land Bill. Tho Minister moved, tho' second reading in tho afternoon, explaining, the reasons for li'e measnfo and for the. departure from tho beaten paths of native legislation of the past: and .declaring the Government would make every,,effort to'have the,. Bill, passed. Mr. Hemes'; who is ono of thfe leading authoriti* , , in the House pn Maori topics, followed, oritisising'the Bili strongly; depreciating the value.of the Commissioners':report, on which the , measure is , largoly' based. Then came Mr.: Ngata, a member of-the; Commission, and. who, on that account", refrained; from oriticising.or praising!the Bill. Mr. Ngata, nevertheless, made -an excellent speech, in the course of which he dealt with past failures and; future .requirements lri legislation, and introduced also some thoughtful views on the peculiarities of the'race that: required to bo jnet:* The House paid atribute ofapplauso. Aftbj the Premier} and the Leader of the, Opposition came , Mr; Kaihau,who broke silence this i session with: an 'impassioned speech, (interpreted) on the failure of the.Bill to meet thefnatives' requirements. He especially denounced the proposal to give Board's powers, which, he said, the natives themselves should possess.; He made an oiler to give land to satisfy European wants rather than that the Bill', should \pasa. Mr; Kaihau presented a picturesque, and commanding figure; his giant form'swayed with each vigorous gesture, and Ije held' the close attention of members' and '.the numerous occupants of the g;dleriosi'j'When he ingeniously pleaded for an extohsioKof time : beyond the usual half-hour, and.waved, aloft several sheets of notes, the House laughed, and unanimously granted tho concession. Mr. Kaihau continued with equal vigour till the adjournment, during which tints cajoled,and ; threatened—threatened to I'ttesert";.tie'Government and petition the Home' Government." He- moved, in conclusion, that-;th'e: Bill be postponed for, twelve mdnths to.enable the natives to become acquainted with;',-it.' ( : On 'resuming his'seat the riativo me'niber,, ivas heartily, applauded. After Mr. Kaihan,came Mr.,, Jennings, and the debate then'was general - -