HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4556, 11 August 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wellington, Yesterday.

Replying to questions, Ministers said Government would inquire whether any long delays in operations under the Land. Transfer Act could be obviated. Could not promise to admit sugar duty free for fruit-preserving and jam-making. Government would propose a vote for compensation to Dr Philson for services as surgeon of the Auckland Hospital, in which serf ice he had lost the use of one hand. —The settled Land Bill introduced yesterday was really the Alienation of Land Bill of former sessions.—There was nothing; to prevent the Thames, County Council taking their claim to 5 certain goldfields revenue into a Court of law, if they wished to do so.—lt was not desirable to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the allegations against the N.Z. Native Land Company as two libel actions on the subject were now entered.

Major Atkinson, in moving that the House on risflbg adjourn until 2*30 on Monday for Government business, intimated that Government would propose to go on with the estimates on Monday, and the Government saw no reason why all necessary business should not be over by the end of the present month, if members wished it, A large number of bills on the paper might well stand over till next session.

Major Atkinson moved that Mr Hurst be discharged from the Dargaville Charges Committee, and that Mr Mason be substituted.—Mr^,Beddon wished to move that Mr Swanson's name be substituted for Mr Mason's, but leave was refused.—Mr Bathgate advocated the discharge of the Committee altogether.—Mr Montgomery* expressed a strong desire to have his name taken off the Committee.^—Majbr Atkinson said that he had asked the Opposition whip to agree with him in nominating the Committee, but he, after seeing his chiefs, hald stated that they refused fee have anything to do with the nomina-. tion of the Committee^ Mr Sheehan: appealed to all parties to drop the matter if Mr Dargaville would say he did not impute personal dishonor pr corruption "to the Treasurer or the Premier.—Mr Dar» gaville protested against the whole proceedings. He never intended te impute personal dishonor or personal corruption to either the Treasurer '.or/;, the Premier^ and if his words could have borne such a construction he would have withdrawn them; but that he did not intend anything of the kind was shown by the amendment he had in the first instance moved.—The motion for adjournment was negatived on the voices, and the motion was similarly, agreed to.

Mr Hursthouse resumed the debate on the Native Land Laws Amendment Bill. He thought Government should have resumed - the pre-emptive right of the Crown; He denied that the; Judges considered the presence of agents or lawyers in the Court an unmixed disadvantage: the complications arose from the complex nature of the transactions. He asked the Government to explain the effect of the bill on native land in the South Island leased for mining purposes, but not passed through the Court. That was of importance to his district. He thought the bill should not apply to the South Island. He would support the amendment given notice of by 1 Mr Stevens. Sir G. Grey dwelt on the great importance of the subject at issue. He thought Sew Zealand contrasted with the Australian colonies most unfavourably in its dealings with the natives and their lands. The present bill required great alterations. It would not benefit nor secure the welfare of either Europeans or natives. The present Government set a bad example in dealing with native lands,*'and were largely to blame for the present unsatisfactory condition of affairs. The interests of Europeans had to be considered as well as the rights of the natives. Hardly anyone whohad trafficked in native lands came out of the transaction with unsoiled character. -The natives: were also demoralised by these land transactions* At present no European of small means could obtain land, and all hope of settlement was done away with. He, in 1862, pointed but the results which would follow giving up the Crown right of pre-emption, and urged that it should be unlawful to buy native land until a Crown grant had been issued, and then only in small farms with a condition of residence; his Ministers at the time, however, declined to adopt this riew. The wisest plan would be to say to the natives, we will sell your lands for you~-nofc to make any profit, but to ensure settlement. His bill, already before the House, would have been followed by another to ensure this, and also to fairly protect interests already existing, and which had been allowed to grow up under the present system, bad as it was. He complained of the unfair way in which native reserves had been allowed to be parted with by private sale. In his bill, twelve months notice of the removal of restriction of sale was stipulated for, so that all- might have a fair and equal chance of purchasing. It was a blot on the present bill that it did not touch this point, as great abuses had taken place; under the present system, and Vithin two' years the family of the Premier had so acquired upwards of 13,000 acres of these native reserves, while all should hare had a|chance of competing for these lands. A clause to prevent a repetition of such a wrong should be introduced, and he would bring in a bill to annul these improper grants, leaving it to those who had got them to ask for compensation if they suffered wrong.—Te Wheoro expressed general approval of the principles of the Government bill, but pointed out certain details which required alteration in committee. He, however, thanked the Government for at least showing a desire to do justice to the natives.—Mr Smith strongly supported the resumption of the Crown's;pre-emptive right, tHe did not think the objection as to want of means was a sound one; a very small capital would do all that was required. He objected to lawyers being excluded from the - Court.-r*Tombana said the natives should be allowed to deal with their own lands, subject to the Govern-' ment seeing they dealt rightly,—Mr Hobbs approved the bill generally, but would also support Mr Stevens' amendment.: He would not like to Bee the Crown resume the pre-emptive right.— Mr Montgomery thought the present bill a step in the right direction, and, as such, would support it.—Mr Kelly thought the bill a half measure, good as far as it went, but incomplete. He urged the superiority of the proposals he had placed on the paper.

Later.—This day. Mr Pish supported* the Bill as an honest one, but not going far enough; certain amendments were required in Committee. Mr J. Buchanan defended the East Coast Land Settlement Coy., and Mr DeLautour from the charges made against them, and into which is courted the fullest enquiry. He would support the Bill generally, but not the exclusion of lawyers from the Courts. •—Mr Turnbull supported a return to the right of pre-emption by the Colony. Mr Sheehan intimated his intention of speak- : ing at length in opposition to the Bill, on a motion for its committal.—Mr Bryce replied at considerable length, intimating that he could not agree to any clause which woutd validate or protect existing uncompleted negotiations. The Bill was read a second time and the House, rose at 1.5 a.m. . ,v