HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4565, 22 August 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30.

Replying to questions Ministers said every possible step had been taken to secure the arrest in Australia of W. Dale, who had absconded from his ball at New Plymouth. The bondsmen had offered to pay the expenses.—Ministers could not arrange to open the railway for traffic to Matawau, as the line to the station beyond would be ready in three months.—The Colonial Secratary had no discretionary powers to refuse licenses for totalisators to racing clubs ; the Act was mandatory, and Government did not see its way to alter the law this session.— Government now did and would, as far as possible, so arrange Government contracts as to allow manufacturers who are not importers to tender for colonial made articles.—Government would, as far as possible, favorably consider any application from the Waitaki natives for a reserve in place of some land carried away by the river.—They would consider the propriety of erecting a railway station near the centre of Danevirke township.—The Governor's assent had been given to certain leases granted by natives of lands at Wairakau and in the vicinity of Te Aroha.—A bellbuoy would not be placed on the Waipapa Point before the lighthouse could be completed.—Government believed that Messrs Hesketh and Richmond s opinion that the Eotorua leases were void was based on a misconception of the facts .— Government had done a good deal to encourage the planting of mulberry trees and silk manufacture; they had also i directed |the attention of the natives to the subject, and would gladly entertain any suitable proposal for encouraging tea growing.—Government would not take up the Eailway Employes Bill, but hoped in a future session to be able to introduce a measure in the same direction. —The I Petition Committees' recommendation re the widow of Major Withers would be given effect to, and a vote placed on the 1 Supplementary Estimates. Major Atkinson moved that Government business take precedence for the next two Wednesdays.—Mr Montgomery opposed the motion, which, after considerable further discussion, was carried on a division of 47 to 27. THE NATIVE LANDS ACT. On the motion forgoing into Committee on the Natives Land Act Amendment Bill, Mr Moss and Mr J. W. Thompson spoke in opposition to the bill as being calculated to retard settlement.—Mr J. Sheehan said he regretted the abolition of the Crown pre-emptive right, but doubted whether it could now be resumed. The North Island did not want a bill like the present one, which would practically shut up the whole of the land ; it also intensified temptations to all Governments by giving the Native Minister enormous I power. He blamed Government for its action in regard to the Thermal Springs country. He was quite prepared to support the exclusion of the lawyers from the Land Court. The bill would only have the effect of driving out of the market the best class of legitimate purchasers ; the others would still negotiate and buy before the land was through the Court, and defy the the penalties. There were only two courses open; either free trade, in land with ample reserves, or the resumption of purchase by the Crown. He strongly , urged a recognition of existing equitable rights, which would be destroyed if the bill I passed in its present shape,thereby causing great hardship.—Mr Fish supported the : bill; those who had been breaking the law j deserved no consideration in regard to 1 their claims. The bill was an honest attempt at honest legislation.—Mr Smith opposed the bill, as it would inflict great hardships and lock up the lands; it would invalidate all agreements made by sawmillers with the natives for cutting timber on their lands. People were now actually rated for lands which this .ill would deprive them of.—Mr Taiaroa did not think the bill would prove beneficial to the nati?es.—Mr Macandrew did not at;ree in the exclusion of lawyers from the Courts, and thought the bill would generally intensify existing evils.—Mr Stevens strongly opposed the i bill; what was wanted was more Courts,

so as to get native titles individualised. He moved that the bill be committed this day six months.—Mr Turnubll seconded. Though the bill only proposed to lock the door after the steed was stolen it would enable the friends of the Goverment to swallow up all the land, and he did not think the natives should bs permitted, any more than European, to hold m >re land than they could beneficially occupy. -Mr Ivess supported the bill, aad Mr Joyce objected to it.—Mr Hobbs supported the biil, and would recognise existing rights. j —Mr Stevens' amendment was lost on division by 52 to B,—Mr Bryce haying replied, the House went into Committee on the bill. Lateb, This day. In Committee, clause 6 was struck out in order that a new clause might hereafter be inserted; clause 7 was amended by adding a proviso defining the term native land; the remaining clauses were passed with slight verbal amendments, and after a brief discussion the bill was reported and ordered to be re-committed on Thursday, to consider the new clauses.—The House rose at 12.40.