PARLIAMENTARY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1931, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY

THE HOUSE. (By Telegraph***Per Press Ansnciation) WELLINGTON, October 29. A number of non-contentious Government Bills were passed in the House of Representatives yesterday. Land Transfer (Hawkes' Bay) Bill which provides for replacement of the land transfer register destroyed, in the earthquake. Stamp Duties Amendment Bill 'imposing a tax on lottery tickets and overseas passenger tickets, Building Construction Bill, Hawkes Bay Earthquake Relief Funds. Bill, Air Xavigation Bill giving authority for the issue of regu.utions to control air traffic, Native Band Bill and Native Purposes Bill were all put through the remaining stages and passed. The House agreed to amendments made by the Legislat’ve Council to ’Rural Intermediate Credit' Amendment Bill. Moving '. the second reading of the Native Land Bill, Sir A.. Ngata said it was a consolidating measure, while the Native Purposes Bill was a wash : ng-up Bid. Referring to native land development he said it was not sufficient for the Maori to be picturesque. It was not sufficient that- he should have quaint poetry, pastimes and ceremonial. The . country expected that after one hundred years of European civilisation the natives should be able to maintain themselves , and there was.nO better way of doing that than by enabling them to use the land they had inherited from their ancestors. The Native Land Bill cons'sts of 567 clauses and will be the largest single measure in the New Zealand Statute Book. The House rose at midnight.