GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1763, 14 July 1888, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Wednesday Dr Pollen reported that the Free Conference on the Chinese Bill had been unable to arrive at a settlement of the question. The debate on the second reading of the Customs and Excise Duties Bill was resumed and again adjourned. Messrs Milar and Pharazyn condemned it, while Mr McLean supported ii. The Fencing Act Amendment Sill was read a third time and passed. The Christchurch Rifle Range Bill, and the Opawa Education Reserve Bill were coueiderod in committee and reported with amendment*. On Thursday The Attorney-General moved the appointment of a ccmmit'ee to consider and report on the proposed Native legislation.—The debate was adjourned till Friday. i The adjourned debate on the appropriation of the assurance fund of the Land Transfer Department was resumed, and Mr Wilson’s motion carried. The adjourned debuts on the question of the second reading of the Customs and Excise Duties Kdl wm resumed, and ihe second reading was carried on the voices. —The Bill w«* committed, reported wilr out amendment, and passed. The Christchurch Rifle Range Bill, a ad the Opawa Education Reserves Bill were read a third lime aod passed. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. On Wednesday Mr Hamlin, in the absence of the Speaker, aga n took the chai,. Replying to questions, it was slated that Govrrnmeut intended making loci bodies pay iu'ereat on eecmities now held by Government for trust funds and other purposes ; that the whole question of mail service between Great Britain and New

Zealand would be submitted for the eon sideration of the House. The House went into committee on th # Tramways Act 1872 Amendment Bill.— The Bill was reported with amendments. Mr Mitchelson moved the second reading of the Native Land Bill. The feeling among the Maoris was that the time had cotne when they should be allowed to deal with their laud as they liked. Many representations bad been made to Government, who had come to the conclusion that the wishes of tbs natives should be acceded to. In consideration of this, it was thought that the Maoris should be nude to bear taxation as wall as Europeans, and consequently it waa proposed to render their lands amenable to rating. He was sure that the Natives strongly objected to this, but when the matter was looked into closely, the proposals of Government would b* seen not to be unfair. He brieiy stated that that the Bill repealed the Native Land Administration Act, and allowed the Natives to alienate their lands if they chose, subject to provisions which prevented their denuding themselves of the whole of their property. Protection was afforded to existing contracts and documents, and finally all rating Acts would henceforward apply to Native lands. Thia would not come into force in the King Country and Tharmal Springe District till July 1891, by which time it waa aipected that the land would have passed through the Native Land Ooart. It was intended to refer the whole of the Native Bills to a Joint Committee of, .both Houses, by which means it was hoped a measure would be perfected that would aot require to be amended for many years. Mr Balance contended that the Bill ( did not coincide with the views which Mr i Mitchelson had enunciated during the recess, tnd he (Mr Bailanca) had expected some explanation of this change. It was agreed that land-sharking lately had not been successful, but it waa because they had bougnt toe dearly and could not get roads through their lands to open them up. He denied that this measure could properly be celled fieetrade in native Und. It had long been understood that the principle was a failure. Because the Natives refused to deal with their lands under tbs existing law the Government said it was a failure, and they must have all lands thrown open without distinction. He rem ndad the House that the present Government had been clamorous when in opposition for the abolition of Native lauds and had insisted on money being set apart for the purpose. He insisted that they could not new overlook the question of settling the land at present locked up in Native bands, jet tba Bill would enable largs tracts to be bought and turned into sheep runs to the exclusion of settlement. He, defended the policy of bis Government, and asserted that it had the unanimous approval of all the Maori members, a thing quite unprecedented. He urged that some restriction should, be inserted in the Bill to prevent monopoly. The area to be purchased by any one buyer should be limited. As to the rating proposals it would be impossible *o collect rates until titles were individualised. The proposal waa quifo unworkable. Resides, the Natives already paid special fees on the sale or lease of their land. Another difficulty which he foresaw was that their work would be so enormously increased that they would never get through it. On the whole he thought that the expense and trouble of these Native Bills would be more than (he geod they would effect. The consequence would be the abandonment of the Northern Trunk Railway. Ho objected strongly to handing over the Bill to a 'Joint Committee.

The debate wa* continued by Messrs Hutchison, Hobbs, Beetbam, Kerr, Carroll, Graham, Taipua, Pratt, Smith Taiwbanga, Kelly and others. Mr Rhode* thought it would be a great mistake to allow any of theNativss in the South Island, at any rata in his part, to alienate their land. The second reading was carried on the voices. On the motion to refer it to the Committee Mr Taipua moved as an amendment to refer it to the Native Affairs Committee. The motion was carried and the amendment lost by 28 to 27. The House then rose. On Thureday Mr Hamlin took the chair in the Speaker’s absence. Replying to questions, it was stated that a . large saving could be effected by conveying foreign mails by ordinary steamers instead of by the present mail service, but that (he whole question would be brought before the House ; that the cost of printing the report of the commission on the Seacliffa Lunatic Asylum was £165. The Auckland Harbor Improvement Bill and the Nelson Foreehoro Reserve Bill were reported, read a third time, and passed. The Otago Harbor Board Endowment Bill, the Gisborne Harbor Bill, the Oamaru Reserve Bill, the Timarn Harbor Board Loan Act Amendment Bill, and the Mount Somera Road Board Empowering Bill were read a second time. The Counties Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee without amendment, was read a third time, and passed. Mr Fisher morsd the second reading of the Auckland Girls High School Bill. Theobj ct of the Bill was to vary the powers of lb* trustees, and to provide for borrowing £SOOO for the construction of b ick school buildings. —The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. At 7,30 Mr Hislop reported that the Free Conference ou the Chinece Bill had been unab'e lo agree.—Mr Fish asked if Governtn nt proposed to do anyihing further. —Mr Hiahop repled that he would rather not say at present. Mr Pyke moved lo commit the Otago Cental Railway Bill. —Mr j. McKei z e said that the Waste Lands Commiit-e lia i gone carefully into the Bill, and had

recommaodad that it should not be gone on with. He moved that it be committed th»t day three months.—After debate the amendment w«a lost by 47 to 17. —In committee a rtrong debate enaued, and numerous amendments and proposals to report progress were negatived. [Left sitting at 2 a.m.]