PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 945, 12 October 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

; ;v^the?; house. ■ ;•:; ;: OPIUM AMENDMENT BILL. When the House met yesterday afternoon notice of intention to introcluco the Opium Amendment, Bill was given by the Hon. T. Mackenzie.: ■ , -.' . ANIMALS' PROTECTION BM.L. ! ; - /Tho' Hoh./Di : 'BUDDO' ; mbved that- the. amendments made'•'■ in Committee..-, in the' Animals' Protection Amendment/Bill be agreed- to. - ; .-'•Mr. RHODES (Ellesmere) suggested;that; ; an entirely hew Bill should be drawn up on.the lines adopted:in America. :'.■ In that :country; all/birds.; and animals /were pro-: tected except those ■ specifically. exerirptod. '.:. Mr. 'HOGG (Mastcrtoh) 'complained of. the .ravages of .hares in certain parts of theiWairarapa. Somb'suryeillance should beexercised over acclimatisation societies, which;had introduced/certain',animals in; the interests, of sport: which/had proved j inimical to , the settlers.'/' i' / 'The -Hon: T./MACKENZIE.'.said : he agi'eed that as far as ; was /possible scenic reserves' should be m^dd'bird sanctuaries. '• Mr. ALLEN (Bruce);said/that the-timo had' come' to -fdster.a • -national:, life, and an important element hi/;that should be love ot our native .birds/and : flowers.' '.; : The Hon. D.' BTJDDO also/thought the : .idea was a good .'one, but/it'was some-, what ..impracticable in-'; view.: of .the 'fact, that our legislation-'had proceeded so long on lines.'/ In /.South'/; Australia' 'the; Department issued; a', circular "/con-taining-the.names, of/all protected birds 1 and.this :was displayed; on the.'walls of ■ all/schools.■//He thought.'we";might/well. follow .that scheme. ,'■■..■■■■;■ /'. ; ; -'/-/ ■■'[■■• -The'.'BiU./was ;then:;read : /a:;:thir'd;':time: and /passed. ;-- ;;;- /;.// ;//'■-/:-///'///' ■■£ CRIMES AMENDMEtit 'jBILL; / ','.. Mr. 'WILrORD-(Hutt) moved :that the Crimes Amendment Bill be. referred back for.■ tho ' reconsideration of ...Clause, i (which provides that''summary conviction may include -/reformative/-retention).- Mr. i Wilford declared '. that/this.: clause, ■;.vyas upwprkable and/if sit '/were/,passed/ the country would/soon; befringing with pro--tests./.,--/-';/:""/.-'.-'■-.;■■-. '-■'.'■.'■■■...•v. ■":'■■'■ .'.Mr/ ::;HERRIES' .(Tauranga);.seconded.. Ho'thought the /power/given, to. a magis'tratd./under/this' clause was/mnchi top' drastic./ If. the clause;were..struck put a' conference-could he' held/with ' / another place;, and; the/clause/modine/d' to give the; '.prisoner/right ;of/appeal/against ■ reforma-• trve' , --sehtence.://:r/-' : ;-/':;./'/';'// v.-'i;/-/"// ■ : ' : "Mr. HERDMANV. (Wellington-/ North); 6a,id : ,tlie.:'.olause would/.be'/'satisfactory//if the prisoner-were'giyeh-the right/to/have the reformative-/part, of his/sentence im-/ mediaitely'MvieWedrHe,'a r gi'eed;the clause' shdhhi/-De recommitted; ;.''''/..; ! . • ;. ■ Mr.'-LAinJENSON;(Lyttelton)/'was also: :in : ; ; favour- ,qf //recommittal ,i He. pointed ont;6everal 'amendments" that; were ■ necessary/in'our 'crim should". , bo: the-.right, of appeal,.ih:.crimihal' .trials —at/present/there l.was : practically ■•'. none., He/thought the:'jury'-should not-pnly/do-cidb/pn points/pf .;fact,:/but;, shduldwdetermine'the/sehtence;/'-/''' "-;,'/ -.:■■.}:■'%.i\■K\:-''i--; ■ i..The-.Hon:./J..tA.':. ; MILLAE;/Mjnister: in: 'charge-of: the'/Bill,/;said'Clause ;./4'•/was. one of the most 'vital;df /the'Bill./''Power/ should /magistrate. : of •passing'* an^ s iidetermm4te*:sentence,;as. 'it' w-as; . treatment "early.'.in; the'//criminal's: career, that there, was,most',hdpe!.;of .'his reforina-;'' tion.-' : - ; He v , -wM.\ijnitej,.\yiUingi;.te'-racceptr;a; new'['clause,';to':-give /the.'prisoner;-, a;-clear- , right/,df:/ ; iudge. v '//:-5/^-. : '/-,/-^'/^V : 'V->^/-/•/;/,-■;;/",';;;-/: : '$ lfr:v / T..' /Mi:/v;TIILOR/;/(Christchurch/ 'North) :,was l /in'\fa.vbur;,:pf ,/Clanse4;;but/ thongKt/'there;'shb'il'd l 'expensiTe/appeal./''^'/;^:,;;//''.:' 1 ;-'- .■•■;'-.'■'. ■,- ■■' 'Mr. .-MASSEY' ; (Leader;/of;;the., Opposi-; tion) /'said'■'tKat'vatV^e™t;i%^.'- wa S!".?"'/ 'right r of. ■:■'.'*',';:'• *:/;:." J^--/'" ;.;/-://''•: ; : -rejected; 'by/iffi • vdtes/toi3o;i:V'-:/;;'/;';-/// ; :/'; vi ;./'r:,.: ;Ori^^thc:fnoti6ii vfori.the'third.'re'adiiig.the

'Prime- Minister .'moved-that.; ;(a).: ; be recommitted.;?'•■ :'f^:;"'^ :; :' : TMswas agrecd i tb,,and ; the,iHon.i:J.'-A. •MiUar''.said;;h6/wbnld;'get;the.lawdianghts,man' to-.drait:* claisev^pfdvidirig i: ipr.,tho ! ii^M/bf':-app^l' , ; :^i^: ';a/. fonimtivb sentence.'.>,;•-?-:' '\it. /...Vi^;:f : :.-:.: . -. On ;the mbHbnt_tb:;recpmmit',ithe;,;.Cr'm ;Amendment'- BiU'r'-'"?;•.;' *;%: ~:r&'-?i-*-t\ : ' '<-•:, '--The: MINISTEE -moved .to,-strike- out the'clause r dealing r with .'right ; . of against: rcfbrmalive-:.^etehfidn,'. J tod: i.svibstitntb;''the'.following, new^lanse: :-'sEvery person sentehced' by ;af: magistrate, to ~a period' : bf;- reformative';.detention-. I :'in ay .;at any time",within -14'- 'days thereafter. apply ex,parte ,fe' ; a, judge'bfi the .Supreme,; Court 'for I 'a' 1 review-..off his sentence, 0n;.;,.th0. ground thatiit.is; eicessiye,,or onght not tb.have been passed,-and.sn'cli judgemay thereupon''either uphold'.thb.sentence or :ro"duce ; the .term'.thereof/'- I ;This,, said tho Ministerj' would 'provide a cheap; and .easy ;ineans of ; appeal;.-'':;. ,vv■.■.'; v :^ /;■'''.;,. :.,The amenqment ,was-agreed-to, -and. the Bill.'was.''read;., and.passed; > • -; H -'NATI VE 'TOWNSri I PS BILL, | 4 : '> ii -imHT;: ,;i^ehoed|-';- :;" The - 'House -considered amehdmente"■; to the'.Native, Townships. Bill, ;which::had bcen'" ; introduced..by.':-Govefnor'sf Message. One' of : thesb,.,'Erbvided that. land; in; ; Na-tive':townships-:;may,;be .sold., to-.private persons.-'. A -second' bhe^was-.as > follows ;<-? "A. :Mabri ; 'Land precedent 'in ..writing; of the ..bene- ' iicial owners, ~o'r, of-their': trustees in .the case : bf : owners;; under: -disability,",-or; in pursuance - - of 'a ■ res'oltrtibn;; of ,':, the bled 'owners -under-Section 356 .of the Native' Land. Act,. 11903,-.sell to.;any person any' 'land: situated"in. ; a, Nutiye.;township and-vested in •the'boatd.'Aiiy. such sale may.'be-effected.'-by.'way 'of:;private contract; •' piblic.' l -auction,:.;or;:. public ..tender. \yhen;any such sale is: effected: iii: pursuancb:'of 'a: resolution J' of the' assembled ownersi' all'the.pro^nsions''of-Part-XVIII of., the' Native: :tand- Act,'- 1909, 'shall; so: far ;.as.'applicable .'apply;.thereto/with; all necessary modifications: .No'sale .effected under:>this section,: : shall ;.be :pf'; any. 'validity 'until•:'and';unless:.:^'it has been consented : ;- to' ;by. ,;the;;:Goyernor-in-Coun-cil ■">■-.■'':'''•■'■■•'■ -: .■':'.;V, : .lV-.!'•:'■';.':?-" ■•" : J'-vv^:V ; '::-'''-''.^'- :. -Mr.■ JENNINGS (Taumarunui);said,,he -was glad the Minister ; had brought, down these amendmentsjiwhieh": embodied .what he had: advocated when the. Bill was':before the Committee.?, 'The'.'clauses...would. ■satisfy 1 , the ;demand"for:-the freehold.' in the King Country... He .had', telegrams ■froin-'tho = president "of the -.Greymouth Chamber of Commcrce- : and the president of .the -Taumarunui: Town .Council .; congratulating'him upon ,the: 'stand he .had take.i. - in connection' with, • th; s- matter;, Mr. T. 'E; TAYLOR : ;• 6aid .'•- the.; new clauses 'suggested .that'Vfree trade .in.Native lands; was'-at. hand. : 'The' powers retained - to the : ; Governor-in : Council.'.to validate.'or invalidate sales would;iay'the: Executive.open to.all.sorts of charges of favouritism. '.He tho-'new provision, r ■::.'':.'-■;■.::;..:-■■' ;■'"■-■-'-■■;'■ ' ",: "■-"■'' , ■ The Hon. 1 J,.' CARROLL, remarking on the"; necessity.;for: .the' amendments,' said every carb 'had- been; taken tp'pro'vidb:: that; the; Natives should". not;jdenude 1 themselves of.:all their' lands.;;He was against ■ a ; general .free .trade in Native lands.-but there 'were', circumstances: j - which arose at .times;; which ; made it. a benefit to Natives to be,-able to sell some of --their, lamls,:,;The,"Maoris .were;looking forward to. obtaining-assistance from .the-Government',in" the, direction of improving" their lands, .advances for this purpose, being difficult;.'.to.',obtain': sentl ■'■' He .'had' gone. carefully into the amendments,. and Tie .asked; 'the Commit tee to accept .thorn'as' they stood.. ' , •". The Hoiisej'on a ; .division by' 48 votes to 12, decided - to. go 'iii-tb' Cpm'mitteb'on the uew'clauses.-*.': ">:. ■'■-<;/ -.Vv-'.'■.'; ■'-..':•■ V In, Committee ,on;.Clause;.2la (land acquiretl by; the; Crown, to, be disposed of in accordance' with.' regutations), '■' Mr: MASSET asked what was theneces---sity for the proposed Tbgnlationsl . The'Hon.'.Mr.. CARROLL said-that if it was '■■ desirable to give', preference to "any 'particular tenant---there'- was no power undor; the Jjand Act. In reply to" Mr. Herries-.Mr.' Carroll: said the regulations wore not /calculated to. answer any.' other purpose. 'It was not intended to interfere to. prevent sales by way of public auction or to: do ■ away, with tho power • of: sale, and; only' have the". power ■of Teasing. ...i"'■• .-■• -..-.- -- On-a division, Clause 21 (a) was adopted by .45 votes to 10. J .., ; -..- ■On the new clause providing that land in Native townships maybe sold' to private persons, '■- ••:".-,. ,-. Mr. HEBElßS'moved to strike out.tho sub-olatise providing that "no' sale efFec-tcd under this section .should-be. of. any valid--■ity,. until it ■ had been consented to'by the ' Gbvernor-in-Council. ■'. Mr. Herries 6aid the clause gave. no. 'additional proi- teetion to the Native, and the reference, Jtto'-tie-G«?snior4n-Co3ia6fl. --^<mid;-oiilw

cause trouble and delay. It had been dono away with in other cases. Tlie Hon. J. CAItKOLL said the clause was, inserted to meet "a special class of Maori lands. It was true, they had repealed any reference to the Governor-in-Council as stated, still they could not bo too careful when dealing with this new phase of Maori property—Maori . townships. '''".' A prior amendment was moved by Mr. HOGG (Masterton). to Sub-clause 2 to tsrike out the.words "private contract," and ensure that any sale must be by public; auction: or public tender.. Mr. Hogg said he had. always objected to promote deals in, Maori land. The Maori owned and the European: purchaser should be protected by baring . public sales. " On.a division,-. Mr. Hogg's amendment was negatived by 39 to 20. ;; Mr. .JENNINGS. (Taumarunui), speaking to Mr.. Herries's amendment, argued that tho sub-clause- should be retained- to checkmate speculators.' i •■•■.' -~ • , •. Mr., BOSS (Pahiatua) -argued that .at present there was no real, limit on the • amount of Native land one might acquire.' .He urged legislation.. to prevent > a few men ."mopping up" very large/areas ot Native\land. , '■ / '•* ' Mr..HURRIES said that the issue of Orders-in-Council meant delay!;Mr. HOGG said ho had objected- to speculation-.. going on in Native lands in certain parts of his' .district.'. He . had asked the Minister to ..stop it, and the Minister had said ho was powerless. He welcomed the clause as a possible < check. Mr. ERASER . (Wakatipu). said/, the clause had reference only, to section's _ inMaori townships; therefore if speculation was going on'in rural lands 1 it would npt stop;it.", ■■•'.■■':'■. /;.;-.':-, ■' ■."■.''.'' /:/

• , Mr. ■ FIELD-(dtald). suggested limiting the. number of sections'.or the area, that might' bb acquired. •' /i . '•. . . ■'■/'-■'.-''.,' .■Mr';-- 1 MASSET/remarked/that/the Act of; 1009. prevented .the • aggregation • of large areas;of freehold Native,land. The. limit was. 400, acres of first-class land, and 1200 acres: of second-class,land. In some cases this limitation, .was. rather severb, as.inthe case of a;block of land in Hawke'sßay he had heard'of.. This; though itiwas j!4-an-acro: land, carried only one sheep to the acre, and. Euro--peans would not. take it ! up: under .: the; present limitation. •;-. >.■;./••;.■ /The amendment was,los,t by 41 votesto 23. ' ■ '-•■ ! '::;/. -/• -: '••; .Mi'. EEREIES congratulated r the. ,Goy-.: ernment.on'-its'change of-'front;in.regard to the.freehold./ If they had r agreed to the /amendments /proposed, by".Mr.;. Jen.nings, in - Committee, a great- amount; of. time would have been: saretl. '• . : ' J,: '•',',■,;',-i • ,'The PRIME 'MINISTER remarked; that j |-the/native' Minister had not .yielded, to any: bntside'. representations ; pi"..:■' tp . any presstrrb,; as : Mr.;:Hemes/.had, suggested. There.had been'no.'claiige'.'of iront on/the part of the ■ Government.'. ' .'.'':'"','. -: V ; Mr. LAURENSON ,(Lytteiton).;said/:he would cast, his vote :against any/attempt to'rob the Native of his. ancestral.landsi The Maoris. had': 7. million^'■ acres of ;land, but 252 white men alone owned 13; million'acres/He was :tired:,pf hearing' tho; continual "clamour ;in, regard';, to /tfative lands." ■ ';'• ':.' :, . .-,-;; ■■ ■■ ",',-.-; ; ;■■.','. '-'■ : Mr.'-:MASSET said' the .speeches- of the member/for Lyttelton'-were just, about ;'as pleasant to'listen to as/thb mud 'in Xyt-' telton- Harbour-was/to/look .at.;. (Laughter.)'.- Mr. ; 'Massey, proceeded to,cpngratulaffe. the-, Goreniment- .on.'-ife .-change.' 6f front. ; There, -had. been intense dissatis-: .faction, with //tho /Bill,' ■:. as;;'it;' passed: its isecbnd .reading;, attdiwhen it /was /in-Coni-mittce.-v'.He' proceeded. to/ quote" a: protest from;Te; Kuiti against: the clause.-provid-irig ;for/ the 'sale/only! to, the Grown.. This was;only dnevprotestj.. No./doubt-.there were/ others'; hence. .the - alterations.,'/- The ■ ;blot/qri the Bill™was ! that,'no''sale';would-' ;be'/ consented , to/ without/; it: was -agreed to ■ .by'/ the' : /Goverhor-ih-Conncil. '?'.:■;■. Ho ,thought/:there /were /pleiity/ of without, this., . In past years .no sale .could take /placs''without; the. "consent .of:: .the 'Governor-in-Cbuncil;i.,;'ah'd ~if ; :the 'hoh.. gentleman had ./.only 'heard one/tenth ,of, ;what had /been/said. qn , /this/matter;:in : the' past;..:he' would /never have; inserted -/this, clause in the 'Bill.- v He if riend of: tho;speculator,.but/lie'-tried to.do liis.-best for tne'genuine settler,, ! •■'.; :■:■-/.■■■• :V • ■.-' ■ /: : Mr:;POOLE (Auckland' West) .applauded: .the action, of: the /Minister: in ;s'afeguard.ing.the interests.of: the. NatiTcs. :.'';;;'' ';.'-

.'.'.. Mr.' HOGG;i(Hastertbh) '■) spoke.• strongly against/private; dealings,;in/Native', lands'.. Such, hadj.'bpb.ned- the-..d00r;,, to- gigantic frauds,■ and been■ the/means/offrustrating settlement..'• He was vary, sorry the. Goyerunien.t had:-given..wa'yV; ■'■.■ There/had.un-. doubtedly •'. been '-:a:change.:;of ''front, •; ;He. thought- a: good deal of-, the,^township ; :lan*d : would .fall into:-the ;lmnds 'of speculators: who until ;they'got a. good-rent, ;or "ontil'they -could';sell,. at a lai'ge profit:: had submitted tbpressure fioin a number, of set- 1 tiers..;.,:'. They .should never laveVyielded to the' proposals and altered'the Bill.;,: . '•':' Mr: ; the Native../.Minister had- -shown'.", gi'eat wisdom 1 in'iecognisingi the i position:: that :nbw V.exists in thejEing; Country. ';:;,The aniendmonts:.were most; satisfactory,- and' their-passing be. to: meht of the-Maori.; ;This Bill: would set-': •tie a; vexed question which hadbeeii.irri--.tatihg a;, lot ;of-.:people, for "a. number .of ■years.:.::,: -:'' ; - : . r I ii' /-. :::..V;:': -

TKe ; H<m; a;t.NGATA ; said tlie'Nifiv* Minister.had ,'niade' a,;geninrietattempt 'to solve'a difficult and'complicated problem.. ;pro-. 'provisions of {tnis;Bill. There' would not' have /been ■'. the: Native') land available'for'settlement' that'.th'era if the old Acts had;not had : the: safeguard"Vof *. the:.- Goverhor-in-Couricil. They; were 'cpraing.'to"a deadlock', and the 'policy .in. land settlement -was to .go along the',;lino-'of least,'Tesistance:\'''This,, was the- Native,lands.;,..They, could deal:'with the ! : Natives .on 'one side: of. a'particular road in- the, fiawke'a -Bay, but -they, could, not-deal ,with the white men ! on the other, of- the'TOad.^' ; The:En.ropeaiL had a' resisting,power:that; the Maori had not.. The. amendments'.'.complained ■-.■-.of were drafted bafore:any protests'were. ceived.;: If. the ..Opposition wanted to know the: reason for.-: the..'alleged:, change' of front. they ; should \ask : ; the ; member' ■ for, Taumarunui.; ,-'-Any: changes' that had been: made:'had ■ been made, on. the representations of Mr. Jennings.'. ~ Mr. : T.•';■ E.':,TATLOR,. (ChTistehnrch North) said h'eiwouldnot, if he, were 1 the Minister, validate. : a single sale' of Maori: land' next year: : The. combined freehold powers on, the'two sides .of. the 'House were becoming, too much-for. the Executive; He would hang : up 'the'^whole", question' until it could be':put before the people, and their opinion could be taken. The'land question would not be' settled this year or next year; but the next general,, election . would be .fought■■more, oh the: land question' than on' any 'other, issue. ;' • ■■ ■ ■•".■■■■■-■.

, The MINISTER, :in : the course of his reply, remarked:thatrthere,were no Native .owners present, at .the 'meeting;' .of. protest at Te.Euiti referred to'by Mr. Massey."' ■'..■:".'•■■'■■; -''.'.ui ' " ..Mr. Massey:.Are you Surei of it? .'.'-'.' ■_■ 'The Hon!.J. Carroll:.l got it.from the owners themselves; 1,; ~•■' ' • . : :.' The '■• third reading was' agreed. to,: and the'.Biirwas'passed.: ',;\; Yi-„:; : "'. : ,'ii-.\\' '■', 0 '~-; ; - " , ; STQNiQUARRIES. ■: The. Stone-Quarries!',.'■ Bill,, was ■; put through"-its. fiial stages, aiid passed, after a motion by Mr."Witty/on recommittal; to strike out the proviso";that.' the, ■ Act should not apply to ' quarries • used' clusively, by local bodies -for : obtaining stone for use on.public roads, had been negatived;: -.. .- ".-' i '' ;'■■•-' LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE. The House went into Committee to consider ihe following, new .clauses in the Land Settlement. Finance Amendment Bill:— .-'":..;• '■: ;■:.:' It shall not be lawful for any person at any one time to hold-or have an interest in moro than ono allotment of land acquired under the principal Act. Every certificate of . title issued on the purchase from an' association of an: allot- r ment shall have written .thereon a jnom T orandum that is is issued subject to the restrictions imposed by the principal Act and this Act. There shall be annexed to the agreement mentioned in, sections. two and three of the principal Act a, statutory declaration that it states true and complete . particulars of the , purchasemoney or other consideration, and all other conditions upon which the vendor agrees to sell, i and the • purchasers to purchase.' The clauses were adopted, after the.words "otherwise than as mortgagee" had been added after the word "interest" in tho first paragraph. .' Mr. REED proposed a-further amendment that Native land should bo. brought within the operation of the Bill, but the amendment was opposed ■by the Prime Minister. . ■-..-.' : Consideration of. the amendment was made an order of the day for this evenly ThiSpHoufip-rJsaewat- 0.50-..aj>»- .. : i