7

L- -3b

Mr. Monk : I do not like opening up reinvestigations in such matters, and would prefer to take a division on the clause. Clause, on division, agreed to. Clause 7. Mr. Heke : I move that clause 7 be struck out. The question of payment of costs can be brought in by the Government specially without causing this Bill to be an appropriation Bill. Hon. J. Carroll: What purpose would that serve ? What is the objection to the provision here, that the costs of such inquiry or action shall be attached to the land'? Mr. Heke: It limits the action of the Legislative Council. Hon. J. Carroll: I can quite understand Mr. Heke's point. He holds, like a good many others—and I am inclined the same way myself—that there are claims of people who are entitled to certain portions of that laud who were left out in the original investigations or were unfairly dealt with ; and he is afraid that the appropriation clauses of this Bill will preclude the other branch of the Legislature from taking into consideration the claims of these people. Mr. Heke : These clauses are making the Bill an appropriation Bill, and the effect of that is to limit the action of the Legislative Council. I would like to take a division on the clause. Mr. Wi Pere : I think it would be better to commence the whole hearing of the entire block again, and not to let any Judges or the Supreme Court have anything to do with it. Let the Maoris investigate it. Mr. Monk : I think that is an allowable feeling, and a very sympathetic one too, but all this means immense cost. Mr. Parata: Assuming that we set up a tribunal of Maoris, they must claim their expenses. Mr.Wi Pere : If this clause 7is passed will it mean that the Judges will not be paid? However, it is no good my objecting to this clause being passed, seeing that the preceding clauses have been passed. Clause on division agreed to. . Clause 8 agreed to. Clause 9. Mr. Wi Pere : I think this clause ought to be altered so as to provide that the Maoris should pay the Public Trustee's charges. Hon. J. Carroll : I think it is better as it is, that Parliament should appropriate the amount. The Public Trustee is threatened with all the horrid forms of law, such as bailiffs being put into his house, and that sort of thing. Mr. Wi Pere: Is the land to be appropriated ? Hon. J. Carroll: In the future action the costs of such shall be placed on the land. Mr. Field : There is no provision here for saddling the land with costs already accrued. Hon. J. Carroll: No. Clause 9 agreed to; also clause 10. Preamble. Mr. Monk: We do not understand this preamble. It lacks confirmation, and it is asserted commonly that this preamble makes many assertions that are not correct. Hon. J. Carroll: They are mere matters of fact and citations. Mr. Monk: There is Sir Walter Buller's petition. Hon. J. Carroll: Sir Walter Buller merely states generally that " Your petitioner is prepared to prove that many of the recitals contained in the preamble to the said Bill are not in accordance with fact." Preamble agreed to. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation (not given); printing. (1,350 copies), £i I>,

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