NATIVE LAND BILL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 626, 10 December 1913, Page 5

NATIVE LAND BILL.

DEBATED IN HOUSE. REPLY BY MINISTER. [IIV •n'.l.F.<;i!Al , ll. I'RKSS ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington, Tuesday. The debate on the Native Land Bill was continued at the evening eitting of the House. Dr To Rangihiroa said it was pitiable that a native representative should have to stand up in the House, avid plead for justice for his people, rind the most. |is• iriliKi part of it was thai a member of the Government was desertine; hi? own people and support inp iiie injusidce being done in the Bill. The Hon. Dr Pomare said a party which hone, hi Maori land for 4s per acif worth fids per acre now came into (he House with tears for the Maori. The Bill would emancipate the Maori race, and he supported it because it would ;;ive natives' ho pa, and a chance of gainim: ciihaTHhip.

Sir James Carroll asked the Minister to ju.'-iify hip action in depriving the Maori race of representation on tne Maori Bcnida dealing with Maori lano - ?. and. secondly the violation of a great, trust by enabling reserve lands to be sold. Sir Joseph Ward declared against the Bill because it would open up a way to the wildest speculation on native lands irrespective of whether those landr? wore trust lands or not. « Mr ?. Reed maintained that Sir James Carroll's administration of the native land reduced the natives to a state of chaos?. He had every confidence the Act would be administered honestly by the presidents of the boards. The Hon. W. H. Herries, in reply, claimed the Opposition to the Bill had been largely engineered at the Native Conference which sat at

Wellington. That conference was made up mostly of strong party men, but he had large body of native opinion behind him. He had received telegrams from all parts of the Dominion telling him to be strong and put the Bill through and his name would be blessed. The third reading was carried by 34 votes to 20, and the Bill passed.