HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2503, 26 July 1888, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WEDNESDAY The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Imprest Supply Bill for £350,000 was received by message fr. in the JJeputyGoveinor and prised through all its stages. Replying to questions it was stated that trie Govern nent did not intend continuing advances to i ettlers on thn lines of the Vill giK)mo ;'ad Settlement Scheme. A lengthy discission followed, on the motion by Sir G. Grey for the adjourn ineut of the House Several members expressed repiet that the Government were not inclined to continue the Villago Settlement Scheme. Mr Ballance defended tho system at some length, and said ho felt sure the Minister for Lands had not obtained tho information on that system that ho might have done. At the saints time he thanked the Minister for having resisted pressure put upon him to change the tenure of those settlers, and it showed that he (Hon Mr Richardson) was prepared to give the scheme a trial, no matter what his own land policy might be. Ho did not find fault with tho Gin eminent for instituting a land policy of their own, which they had a perfect right to do, but if he were a friend of tho Minimiry, ho should adviso them to continue this Village Settlement Scheme in soma shape or other. The Minister for Lands said there was at present a, great rfemand for land in smallei areas, and he hoped the Bill now before the House would meat the demand. He contended that so long as settlement was developing in a natural way there was no necessity for encouraging village, settlements. He asked the House to do him justice, and acknowledge that he was as sincerely desirous of seeing thn land settled as any other member. Although he was not opposed to the scheme itself, he held that so long as the land in the colony was being rapidly taken up they were' directly relieving the unemployed. The motion for adjournment was lost. That the subject of a reciprocal tariff for the Australasian colonies would receive consideration. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. On the motion of of the Premier, it was agreed that. Government business should take precedence on Thursdays after tomorrow. On the motion for commital of the Native Land Bill, Sir G. Grey moved that the Bill be committed that day three months, as it had been greatly altered by the committee to which it was referred, and the natives have received no notice of such alterations. The Premier expressed surprise at Sir G. Grey's attitude, seeing the original taxa tion proposals had been modified so that the natives should receive fair notice that thsy were going to be taxed, but they must remember that large Maori estates were blocking settlement just as much as any land monopoly. Mr Hutchinson said Maoris could scarcely be considered to escape taxation vihile they had special stamps and other duties to pay which fell heavily on them. The natives should Im allowed tune to consider it. Mr Carroll, while admitting natives, must in the near future, be brought under ordinary taxation, thought the present time inappropriate. Moreover, it would piactically be uncollectable, and quite useless for revenue purposes. They should bend all their energies now to place the land question on a satisfactory footing. Iho period allowed in tho Bill for individualizing, titles was altogether too short, it would need an army of judges, assessors, and surveyors to get the rough work clone in time. Mr Taipua repeated his former objections to the taxing proposals. Mr Bruce did not believe in rushingpeople into the colony, and consequently did not view the spectacle of large blocks witheld from settlement with very great aversion. What he did believe, hi.wjver, was that if proper precaution were not taken the Maoris would very soon be landless in the land of their forefathers. He supported the Bill. Mr Ballance thought the native members should have taken exception to the taxation proposals at an earlier period. In the Bill as amended owners of native land had to make application to the court to fix the title, but there was no such thing as native owners until the court had settled who they were. The expense of individualising titles in great many cases would be ten times the value of the land. Mr Taiwhanga said they had just had se.eral Maoris killed under the present law. Dr Newman viewed the prospect of the land along the Northern trunk line being thrown open to speculators with alarm, and would rather see the Bill rejected than the railway hung up. He pointed out several directions in whichthe Bill might be amended with advantage, but on the wliolo be gave it a hearty support. Mr Pratt, like the other native members, obeected to the taxing clause. Sir G. Grey raised the question that the Bill being one imposing taxation it should have baen introduced in committee of the whole. The Speaker said when in committee the chairman could order any clauses of a taxing nature to bo held over and properly introduced if he saw fit. After some further discussion the amend ment was lost by ">4 to 12, and the Bill was ordered to be committed. Hon. Mr Hitchelson moved that the Native Land Court Bill bo committed. Sir George Grey again protested that these bills would be absolutely ruinous to the Maoris. Messrs Taipua, Mitchelson and Taiwhanga opposed the Bill. (Loft sitting.]