HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2497, 12 July 1888, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WEDNESDAY. The House met at 2.80 i»n, Mr Hainlin, in the abseuue of the Speaker, again took the chair. Replying to questions it was stated that the Government intended to make local bodies pay the interest due on securities nuw held by Government for trust funds and other purposes. That the whole question o.f mail services between Great l'iiitaiu and New Zealand would be submitted for the consideration of the House.

The House went into committee on the Tramways Act, 1873, Amendment Act. Mr Meuteath asked that the Bill be pustponed for a few days, ae the matter ivas now under the consideration of the Municipal Corporation of Wellington, Sir H. Atkinson said the request was not unreasonable. He would undertake that it should not be road a third time till the Wellington corporation had held their meeting. If any amendments were desirable afterwards he should agree to the re-com-mittal of the Bill. Hβ would not consider it his duty to abandon the Bill because it was opposed by any particular corporation.

Clause 2 : The penalty for running vehicles on line or rails of tramways without a license.

Mr Menteath drevy attention to the hardships that would be inflicted by this clause.

Mr !Fish said the Bill was brought in to prevent the 'Bus Company in Wellington from running on the tramway line. ■ Mr Buchanan asked whether the penalty would be imposed on any express waggon that happened to get on the tramway line. Sir H. Atkinson said certainly not, unless they wilfully used the line. After further discussion, Sir H. Atkinson said he was quite prepared to strike out that portion of the clause providing for the onus of proof being thrown on the defendant; also to amend the clause so as to provide for a penalty only on carriages using the rails. Carried. Sir H. Atkinson moved to further amend the clause by making the penalty apply to vehicles not carrying passengers or goods for hire. Lost on the voices. Mr Fish moved to strike out the words, "or nearly corresponding with," referring to the guage of the tramway. Mr Fitchett said if this were agreed to it would render the Bill inoperative. Mr Peacock also opposed the amendment. Mr ITish then withdrew his amendment, and the clause was agreed to. Mr Ward moved a new clause, providing that proprietors of tramcars drawn by ono horse should only be called on to maintain that part of the road lyiup between the rails. Lost on the voices, and the Bill was reported with amendments, and ordered to be committed on Friday.

Hon. Mr Mitchelaon moved the second reading of the Native Laud Bill. Tho teeling among the Maoris was that the time had come \yhen they should be allowed to doal with their lands as they liked. In consideration of this it was thought tho Maoris should be made to bear taxation as well as Europeans, and consequently it was proposed to render their lands amenable to rating. He was aware the natives Htrongly objected to this, bwt when tho matter was looked into closely the proposals would be seen not to be unfair. Briefly stated, the Bill repealed the Native Land Administration Act, and allowed natives to alienate their land if they choose, subject to provisions preventing them denuding

themsclvos of tho whole of their property. Protection was afforded to existing contracts mid documents and finally all It -rtinpr Acts would henceforward apply to nativo lands. This would not uome into force, in the King , Country and Thermal Spring district until July Ist, 1801, by which Unit! it was expected tho land would have passed through tho Nativo Luid Court. It was intended to refer thn whole of thu Native Bills to a joint committee of both Houses by which means it was hoped a measure would b.; perfected that would not require to be amended for many years. The House adjourned at .0.35. The House resumed at 7.,'i0 i>.m. Mr B ilbuicp. contended tho Bill did not coincide with the views of tile Maoris. Ho reminded tho House th it the present (Jiivcrnmßiit had been clamorous when in opposition for the acquisition of native lands. He insisted they could not. .now overlook the question of sealing the land at present locked up. 1-1 o defended the policy of his Government, and urged that some restiiction should bo inserted in the Bill to provent monopoly. It would be quite impossible to collect rates until tho titles were individualised. The Native Land Courts would have their work so enormously increased that they would never got through it. One effect would be the abandonment of the Northern Trunk Railway.

Mr Hutchison thought tho Equitable Native Owners Act should either be repealed or a clause inserted dealing with titles proved before 1574.

Mr Hobbs supported the Bill except the ntitiß clause.

Mr Beetham thought these Bills a step in the diieotion of finality, but did not approve of pressing natives to pay rates at the present juncture. Mr Kerr thoucht the Native Bills were what he called legalised swindling, and merely designed to white-wash doubtful transactions in native lands.

Mr Carroll said he shared Mr Hntchinson's objection, but on the main, supported the Bill. He disliked the rating clause, and ho thought that wherever Maoris seemed anxious and able to be put on the same standing as Europeans, it should be done.

Mr Buchanan supported the Bill, but thought the question of rates should be carefully looked into, Mr Graham warmly supported the native policy. Mr Taipna would like to see the Maoris allowed an opportunity of devising land laws for themselves. This Bill was the worst they hail ever had. The rating clause was especially objectionable. Mr Pratt thought the whole tenor of the Bill was unfavourable to the Maoris. He opposed the proposal to refer the measure to a joint couimittee. Mr Smith thought tho Government ought t'i have kept the pre-emptive right in their own hand, and precautions should be taken to promote settlements. Left Sitting.