New Zealand Parliament.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 514, 3 October 1867, Page 3

New Zealand Parliament.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

TUESDAY, 25th AUGUST, 1867,

Mh COOPER’S REPORT.

The hon. Col. RUSSELL asked the hon. Major Richardson, “ Whether the Government intends to take any and what steps to avert the evils contemplated by the resident magistrate of Hawke’s Bay, Mr Cooper, in the followin': uassage of h>s report, dated Napier. 14th August. 1857; - A future of pauperism, the details of which it is misery to look forward to, is therefore inevitable for the Maori race in Hawke’s Bav, at least unless immediate steps be taken, in the spirit of the salutary legislation of last year, to place beyond the reach of the present generation a sufficient portion of the estate that remains to them in the various districts of the Province.’ ” He had been greatly struck with the ability and truthfulness with which the resident magistrate of Hawke’s Bay had drawn the attention of the Government to what lie considered was a great and serious danger, and he was glad to see that, when laying the report on the table, the honorable member representing the Government had directed the especial attention of the Council to it by having it read. He thought, therefore, that in placing the question on the notice F a P® r > /? e Was * n some e t? ree meeting the wishes of the Government by directing still greater attention to it. This he had endeavored to do by quoting an important paragraph of the report so as to bring it under the eye of every member of the Legislature, feeling assured that few who read the paragraph would fad to refer to the report for further information. IS o one acquainted with native affairs could tau to sec the probability of such evils as those pointed out by Mr Cooper speedily arising. Hon. members were no doubt well aware that last sessitin an Act was passed, the object of which was to mitigate those evils. That Act was, as unfortunately often happened, introduced at such a late period of the session as to be passed without that consideration and attention whieh the importance of the subject demand. From a debate which had occurred in an other place, he saw that it was intended to introduce on Amendment Act this session. It was very mmch to be regretted that the early part of the session was usually occupied y party disputes, and that as the end approached raa ‘U I!r *portaut measures were pressed through, with but Httle time being allowed honorable members to consider the matter. It was partly witii the view of meeting this difficulty, by enabling honorable members to turn their mind at once to ■ the consideration of the subject, instead of waiting tor trie introduction of the Amendment Bill, that he now drew attention to the matter, so that they might be prepared to deal with any difficulties which might then arise. He would not mar the sheet of Mr Cooper’s excellent arguments by over the same ground, for it would be very difficult to place the facts in a clearer or more lorcible manner; and he would, therefore, only ask honorable members to attentively read that gentleman s report for themselves. There was however, one point to which he would desire to call .lie attention of the honorable member representing the Government. Clause 14 of the Native Bands Act of last session related to the verification of surveys. The person who had framed is clause could scarcely have perceived how it wou d act. He would suppose a case, to show . wat it would be. The large extent of new 1, country iu the North Island had to be opened up , •o a class of pioneers who required and deserved all the aid and consideration which the Government could give them in their difficult enterprise. 1 ~a ru “‘> they were not rich men, and, before 1 su 't ; 'blc piece of country on which to *° encounter very great and serious Qifficu ties. If, after much labour, they were successful in obtaining a lease of some land from the natives, the first thing they had to do was to get it T’he cos l of this would not be less than £4OO or £4OO. Now, in the North. Island there was not very much good land open, and the 6 j ? rer ma ke up for quality by quantity, and he would speak of what, in the North Island, was considered a large run southern members accustomed to runs of 100,000 acres, would think that a small run, but in the North, 40,000 acres was considered a large one, and the survey of even such a run could not cost less than £3OO or £4OO. Then the matter had to be brouglit before the Lands Court, but by this time, probably, the means of the men were exhausted, yet under the 14th clause they might have to pay a further sum of sixpence an acre, The Hon. Major RICHARDSON.—Not exceeding. The Hon. Colonel RUSSELL.—A sum not exceeding sixpence an acre for the verification of the survey. On a run of the size he spoke of, the sixpence an acre would amount to the sum of £I,OOO, and the clause therefore virtually put a stop to the occupation of the country. The want of (he means to pay such a sum constituted a great aud practical difficulty, but he held that instead of such men having obstacles thrown in their way, every possible facility should be afforded to them by the Government, for they were, in fact, the pioneers of civilization. Hawke’s Bay had been taken up in the manner described by men from Wellington, and the same process was non' being pushed forward towards Opotiki and Tauranga, and undoubtedly great good had ensued from such occupation of the country by sheepowners. The natives quite appreciated the benefits which they derived from such occupation, and nothing had tended more to the pacification of the Hawke s Bay country than its occupation by runholders. Jf, therefore, it was necessary to attach any charge to the verification of surveys, he thought the sum should be as small as possible, but he did not think that any charge should be made, as probably (he cost altogether to the Government would not exceed £5,000, and that sum would be well expended in promoting the opening up of the country. If, however, a charge was to be made, a farthing an acre would be a more appropriate one than sixpence an acre. Even a farthing an acre would amount to a charge of more than £4O on a run of the size named, but as a matter of policy he thought the duty and the expense of verifying the survey should be undertaken by the Government. He desired, before sitting down, to remind the honorable member representing the Government, that he had promised to indicate the views of the Government ten. other points connected with native affairs as soon as the financial statement was made. Several of those points had since been cleared up, but there were others that required explanation, and although he did not wish to unduly press for information, be trusted that the honorohle member would take an early opportunity of explaining them.

The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE asked whether the charge of sixpence an acre did not relate only to "purchased lands. The Hon. Major RICHARDSON said that a Sill would shortly be brought down from another p.see to ueal with the question of Native Representation, and he thought that the second reading

of that Bill would be a very convenient aud proper opportunity of entering into the subjects formerly alluded to by the Hou. Colonel Russell. With regard to the honorable gentleman’s observations on the charge for verification of survey, he was not in as good a position as the honorable gentleman, to judge of the character or capabilities of the class of explorers referred to, but he desired especially to point out that there was a discretionary power given to the Governor to act in regard to that charge as he might see fit. The Government did not consider themselves justified in entirely doing away with the charge, or in expending even the small sum named by the honorable gentleman, and, encircled as they were by financial pressure from the South, he thought that such an expenditure would be an unwise one. The only object of the charge was to cover the actual cost of work undertaken for the especia benefit of those who had to pay for it. The Government did not, at present, see its way to an extension of the legislation of last session on the subject referred to in the honorable member’s question. The native mind was now quiescent, and the Government had reason to believe that any further legislation on the subject of titles might have the effect of disturbing the natives. The Government would, however, do what they could to carry out the power given by the Act of last session, and to invite the judges of the Native Lands Courts to consider tiie desirability of doing all in their power to enforce the objects of that Act. The Government was fully aware of the importance of the subject, and would do what they could to carry out the objects of the legislation which had already taken place.