TO-DAY IN PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 210, 5 September 1930, Page 9

TO-DAY IN PARLIAMENT.

IN COMMITTEE ON ESTIMATES

RABBITS ON NATIVE LANDS,

RAGWORT AND BLACKBERRY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

The House of Representatives met at 10.30 thia morning. Notice was given of intention to introduce the following bills.:—Hawke's Bay Rivers Amendment Bill (Mr. Barnard) and Motor Cabs Bill (Mr. Mason).

The. House went into committee of supply to deal with the Estimates. When a vote of £30,000 for the Native Department was Tinder consideration members drew attention to a reduction in the sums available for the destruction of rabbits on native lands and for clearing native laiids of noxious weeds. Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister of Native Affairs, said the matter of dealing with rabbits was really one for the Department of Agriculture and full provision would bo made for this in the Supplementary Estimates. He said the Native Department was experimenting with sodium chlorate and the cinobar moth in combating ragwort, and blackberries were being cut down and burned. So far as the vote Avas concerned, he said, the previous vote of £500 had been merely a drop in the ocean and he preferred nothing at all. He believed the best remedy for dealing with noxious Aveeds was land settlement.

With regard to the model native village' at Whakarevvarevva- the. Minister said he had noticed as other members had, that tacks, binding wire and nails

had been used in construction, and he regretted that such incongruities had not been avoided in the original scheme. He thought the pa should be constructed and in particular he hoped to ask the House to pass legislation that would enable something to be done with the entrance to the pa "which, at present, was a most unsightly feature. It was also contemplated that the buildings might be reconstructed on. Maori lines. This would cost about £5000 and it was proposed to ask the Natives to contribute one-third, theArawa Trust Board onethird, and the Government to lend the remaining third.

The Minister gave members the assurance that the economic survey of the Maori race would not be a perfunctory work. Mr. R. C. Sim, an ex-judge of the Native Land Court, had already laid the foundations for a comprehensive work in the Manawatu district and on these lines the task would be undertaken. In other districts the idea was to ascertain how Maoris were living, what their lands were like, under what conditions they could be utilised, and how the Maoris could generally be helped. The vote was passed.