NATIVE LANDLORDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1269, 26 October 1911, Page 4

NATIVE LANDLORDS.

A GKEYMOUTH GRIEVANCE. Tlioro wore ono or two animated moments in Hie Houso of Representatives early vc.-lerday nioniini; '.vhen tho Nalive "Washing Up" Bill was being considered in Committee. A clause in lliia measure empowers (lie Public Trustee to charge nnlv a peppercorn rental for Na--, live hinds loused for religious or educational purposes. Sir Arthur Guinness moved that (ho same concession should extend lo lands used for municipal purposes, explaining thai he had in mind the leasehold sites of tho Town Hall and municipal gasworks in Grcymouth. Mr. Paruta, tho Southern Maori member, declined absolutely to entertain tho proposal, .lie declared that if tho member Rii Grey wcro given an inch ho would . stretch it to a loot and perhaps lo a mile. Mr. H. G. Ell (Chief Government Whip) heartily reprobated the proposal, and averred that it was scandalous lo mtorfero with the properly rights of Natives in this wav. Practically the whole of the South Island had been bought from tho Maoris for a trifle, and Ihoy vero now restricted to small patches of the poorest landThe Hon. H. ll'lvcnzio said it was am using to hear the member for Chrislchurcn South talking nonsense! What, ho asked, would the land in the township of Greymouth have boon worth but for Iho improvement; mr.de by Europeans? Tho sections mentioned by Sir Arthur Guinness would not have been worth a ,l! 5 nolo if Europeans had not entered tho country. Why should the Europeans down there 50 on piling up values for tho special benefit of tho Natives? The limo was not far distant when tho Natives : would have lo bo given to understand ' that their land would bo taken in tno ' same way as that of any other landed proprietor in the country, at a fair valua--1 lion. Sir .Tas. Carroll simgcsled that a law; ; should first he made compelling Kiiropoan landholders in towns and cities to part with their land. 'Then," said the Native MinisU'.r, "roil can come iilon; an.i say the same lliin? (0 the Maori holder.' Sir Arthur Guinness said l.lwy all knowtint the member fur Christchurc.h South had "a bee in his bonnet" en this suh--1 ject. 'I'll* present inhabitant* of Gvcynioulli had nolhins to do with ttio transaction under iyifio!i the wholo V'o»l CVast of tho South Jilniwl bud been l»««hl. tor a nominal sum. lmprovciivonis wudo in tlrevmonlli had ceiriemd. a hu-go roraiuo on Native landowners, and it was ir.evea.sing evorv rear. H was only right that they should cons?nt to lease land for punlie 'buildings for a nominal mm. Mr. Parara evidently felt hound lo support his champions. To Iho iT.nuuk by Sir Arthur Guinness that Mr. Ell had "n bee in His bonnet" ho retorted that tho member for Grey Had "e vasp in his tongue." The proposal made by Sir Arthur Guinness was ncgfllivud on a division by 23 votes to 19. For Chronic Chosi Complaints, Woods' Groat Peppermint Cure, K Gd.*