THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3191, 15 September 1917, Page 8

THE HOUSE

The House, of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. FINANCE BILL. Ail amendment to the Finance Bill was introduced by Vice-Kegal Message SIR JOSEPH WARD explained the amendment, and said that it was tho last amendment proposed in tho Pill, which would now go to the GovernorGeneral for his signature. The Taxing Department was preparing tables ot taxes for the information of the public. Sir T. 51. WILFOED (Hutt) eaid that a email shareholder with an income of .£399 might be. able to secure a refund of .£lO from the Commissioner. But a& 60on as the taxpayer had received the .CIO his income would exceed ,£IOO, and the Commissioner could demand the return of the money. Sir Joseph Ward said that the Commissioner would not do that sort of Jlr.'Wilford:-He could do it. Sir Joseph Ward: He would not. Mr J. PAYNE (Grey Lynn) asked if provision would be made for advance-: to email business men in order that they might pay their taxation. Sir Joseph Ward said tho Coninns. Bioner could deal..with cases cf hardship. Payment could be made by instalment. The amendment was adopted. MAORI LANDS. A SCHEME OP DEVELOPMENT. Mr. T. M. WILFOItD (Hutt) moved to introduce the Native Land Act, n>o9, Amendment Bill. He said that the Bill had been drafted with the object oi enabling the Maoris in a portion ot tho King Country to organise for the purpose of. developing land now lying idle. The successful operation of thu J'-nst Coast Maoris had led the King Coumry Maoris to make an effort. Ho had usi-ed the land which it was proposed to develop. There was no doubt that a great work would be <lono if the House afforded tho Maoris :.f tho King Country an opportunity. The Bill did not touch the so-called "confiscated area. It proposed that a. start should be made with an area of about 12,000 acres. '1 ho scheme mild be extended later by an amending Bill The Maoris of tho lung Country were opening a Parliament near J orrinsville thai; day. Tho mceunx marked the beginning of a new era. Hie Bin proposed to confer a limited measure ot local self-Govornment upon the Maoris of tho King Country. Maori owners were to.be enabled to combine in order to deal willi their lands. A. orally-elccln'l body of Maoris was proposed. .1 his <'i™'n,[ council was to be given administrative powers and would bn presided ovei by an elected head chief. The council was to have power to raise, monoy on mortgage, to lend money on I Insecurity of the borrowers' interest in. wild, to carry on agricultural ami pastoral lusine>w, to clear stock and improve, i\ali\o land to lease land for terms not racecdiriifleen years, and to deal w,l.hina"v other matters of importance to Mm Mnm neonlc Mr. Willord Raul Hint tho Coa Maoris had proved the .innor nncc of communal effort. They had ,how what the. Maoris could do f f" chance to help themselves. .1 hi. o.peiito 12.000 acres of land, which h>> *" " s th? Maori Kin* H«ta nlid his nflv.snr*. Mr C. PABATA (Southern Maori) Jd he had no objection h> the Bill, which gave tho Waikalo Maoris power fo form a co-operative gelation. Hut .eol&to'anyveferencesjoapara, that bonded by Iho so-called "king.' Mr W T JENNINGS (Tami'irunuil said'that the Bill had no nhwico of passing during the present session. Hie proposals ought lo receive very cautious consideration before they were a.lcpW. Things wore going very well in tho King Country, and it would be perilous to make, drastic changes of policy. Mr J PA.YNK (Grey Lynn) said tho Maoris had alwaye been blamed for not inakinfr use of their lands, but Parliament persistently withheld from the Native owners the power to use their laiidfl. If the Bill amply gave the Maoris power to bring a. big block ot idle land into cultivation it ought to on V \h Wilford, in reply, said Hip Mill lml been carefully drafted, and contain-, ed no revolutionary proposals. He asked members to. give it careful consideration. Unless the Maori? had power to Ixirrow money to improve their lands with wooer safeguards, they could not make any progress. Tho Bill contained provision for preventing waste of borrowed money, which could be .pent only on tho improvement of the. land. I hero were nearly one. million acres of Maori land awaiting development and if the svstem proposed by -tho Bill were adopted there would he. a chanco of this land becoming productive. Tho Bill was read a first time. MONDAY SITTINGS. The PlllME MINISTER moved, in accordance with notice, that on and after Monday next the House should sit en Jfondav evenings. He earn rhat 'here was st'ill a considerable amount of important work to bo done, but some members particularly those from the country districts, naturally were anxious to get home us soon as possible He helie\od that the work of the siv«i<j!i could be completed within a month.