NATIVE TOWN LEASES.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 252, 23 October 1919, Page 4

NATIVE TOWN LEASES.

• REMOVING DISABILITIES, '■ MAORI INTERESTS PRESERVED ! (Special to "Star.") I WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The second reading of the Nativ Township Amendment Bill, devised -to remove the present handicap under which leaseholders of sections in the King Country townships labour, vras moved to-night r oy the Hon. W. H. Herriee. The Minister explained 'thai the bill would be of beneat both to European lessees and to native owners As a matter of fact natives in Tau-' marunui would benefit very considerably ac their present rents were hardly sufficient to pay the rates and taxee on their land. I -Sir Joseph Ward commended the 'bill 'as being urgently needed in the interestd both of the natives and Europeans Several members supported the measure, and then Mr. Payne protested against its passage until the natiyes interested had placed their opinions before the- House. He contended that ordinary sense and equity demanded such a course. Mr. Pearce expressed the opinion that a bill such as the one before the House was badly needed in the interests of those King Country townships. Mr. Witty protested against legislation allowing natives to dispossess themselves of their land and giving the increment to the pakeha. He announced his intention of voting against the bill on the' ground that it was not a fair bilL Mr Young, chairman of the Native Affairs 'Committee, said the bill was thoroughly considered by the committee, and, all the natives of the House expressed themselves as satisSed. There was nothing in the bill detrimental to -native interests. The measure did not give a loophole for scheming pakehae to rob the native of his land, and did not abandon the principle of the leasehold si-stem as applied to native lands. Members could pass the. bill with the fullest confidence that it was not going to deprive the native of any right he possesses. Mr. W. B. S. MacDonakT stated that if native townships were to be provided with proper improvements and sanitation more security of tenure must be given, as it was impossible to raise loans on the present security. The bill was not doing any injustice to members of the native race. Dr. Pomare stated that the Native Affairs Committee unanimously approved of the bill, and the natives concerned ware quite satisfied. The position at present in some townships had become deplorable, "because rates and taxes; swallowed up the whole rental. Sale was not compulsory, and must not be at less than the recent Government valuation. Mr. A. T. Ngata pointed out that the principle of permitting native townships land to .be "sold was admitted in 1910, and the bill removed some difficulties in the procedure. Mr. 'Holland argued that the danger of the situation was not in the purchase of the land by the Government, but in the subsequent disposal of the land. wished to know if the Government intended to hold the land when acquired, or to act simply as a 'land agent for selling the land to speculators. The second reading was carried on the voices. When, the bill was in committee, Mr. T , . ■Fraser moved an amendment restricting the power of the Crown for the disposal of land purchased from native owners to leasing it. The amendment was rejected by 30 votes to 11, and the measure was reported unaltered, read a third time, and passed. PUTTING TIECROUG'H SMALL BILK. Several minor bills were dealt with by the House to-night, including the National Provident iFund Amendment, State (Forests Amendment, Counties Amendment, and Pα'ice Offences Amendment Bill. When the Counties Amendment 'Bill was in committee, a hew clause was inserted, on the motion of the member in charge, the Hon. J. B. Hine, giving county council* power to provide a residence for a doctor practising ia the county. The National Provident Fund and State Forests Amendment Bills were also put through committee, and all the measures were read a third time and passed.