NATIVE LAND BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 22 November 1907, Page 2

NATIVE LAND BILL.

Fer Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday. In the House of Representatives this afternoon the Native Land Settlement Bill was considered in committee. Clause 3, as reported from the Native Allah's Committee, provides that only the land, already reported on by tie Commissions should be subject to the Act. Considerable discussion took jilace on the clause. The Native Minister opposed this clause as reported, and moved to bring it back to its original form—tlv.it land dealt with within one year after the passing of the Act should be subject to the Act.

Messrs Massey and Okey opposed the Minister's motion. The Minister's amendment was carried by 29 to 14. Mr Hoke moved another amendment to the same clause, to provide that lan'd coming under the Act. should only he disposed of by way of lease, and not by sale.—Rejected by 37 votes to 11. The clause, as amended, was passed on the voices. Mr Tleke moved to strike out subclause 2 of clause G, under which a Maori is given fall power of testamentary disposition.—Lost on the voices. On the motion of the Minister the new clause 7a inserted by the committee, "The Board is empowered to inquire :into any equitable claims with respect to such land and to deal with such claims as it may think fit, subject to the consent of the Native Minister," was struck out by 41 votes to 10. Mr Daivey moved that clause 1(5, provided that all land set apart under the Bill should be sold by public auction or public tender, should'be struck out, and the ballot system substituted. He urged this as dear land retarded settlement and prevented the poor man from taking up land. Mr Barber said the native owners were entitled to get as much money as possible for their land.

The amendment was negatived bv 4) votes to 8. At clause 25, which provides that the purchaser of land is entitled to obtain a transfer in five years of the fee simple, Mr Witty moved an amendment to increase the period to Seven years.— Rejected oil the voices. Clause 30, sub-section la, which provides that the amount expended in making surveys, etc., should be subsidised out of moneys appropriated bv Parliament out of the Public Works' Fund to the extent of ten shillings in th® pound,_ was amended on the motion of the Minister by striking out the words to the extent of ten shillings in the pound." . At eh,,use so, the Native Affairs Committee had struck out a provision Kiving the Govrnor-in-Council power to authorise boards to continue negotiations already entered into. On the motion of the Minister the provision was reinserted. 1 {n A n t J h " S0 , w ' l!c!l empowers a board t- Maori owners, Mr Ivaihau called for a division.—The clause was retained by 43 votes to 7. Mr Ngata moved a new clause to piovide that a lessee, with the consent 01 a board, may borrow money for the purpose of farming, stocking, or „- tte V ;Zes nd '~ ThiS WaS t0 « Mr Ngj lta movp(l nnot]ie j " provide that a board might raise i ey V wa .v of mortgage or security «n any land for the owmers of wl?ich such board is the registered agent.— Negatived on the voices. ported ßl " WlWl amondmcnts was reTHIRD READING. Tho Minister then moved the third reading.

, The Premier, in defending the Bill, said that, by the Government's pureliasariifX" ? 10 lancl was ma(l0 mailable for settlement and the poor ; i? ti hanc V of going 011 the lan<1 > liuoas if the natives were allowed un u'stneted freedom in the sale of land nlwavs'cet th T B ' m ° ,ley ' WoU '^ JSt&Si« A - L - n - F'-iser said that when native measures wore before tlite House the> were treated with contempt, and tins would continue so long as {lie snecontiSf 0 "^ 1 ' 011 rL continued. He combatted the stafo nient of the Premier that there had been SSfw.'swsE acres 1 l mrchase d 15s per K-iSSTfS? nnT-muj' 1 proiluce a "eveKttSNS 5 asws this, where Lr„ ° h a n,eaßure as wjkFVJ a fmnmiUee nm ? «,i, u \ r e J »'' wis HI «*** j; i,;;; r0 :!'T Iw he m; « M Rented lawvors ml, ' me P l '''- •"Wobitimr in native ZT Aff>V +l u> T Tn „ tb-> nn, Z' /• /-Wo!) hftfl lv . ■ft votes to 7. ' a time liy