PETITION THE ROUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1699, 17 June 1884, Page 3

PETITION THE ROUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The following petition is to be submitted to the consideration of the members of the House oi Representatives aa an appeal against the 'proposed measures to be brought before Parliament this session, and praying* for the assistance of , the House to* redress existing wrongs by amending the law as at present in operation: — ,

To the Hon. tee Speaker anb Membees ,of the House op Representatives in Parliament Assembled : The humble petition of the undersigned residents and settlers in the Bay of Plenty and' Rotorua Districts sheweth.

1. That your petitioners are deeply interested in the welfare and progress of the distriot; and view with alarra the Preemptive Right Bill which Government propose to Bubmit to Parliament during the present session. - '-'„"- :.'■--■".'• 2. We believe, should this. Bill become law, it will haye the effect of locking up, from sale and settlement, the great bulk of native lands in this part of the Island.

3a That in view of our heavy taxation, your petitioners cannot but regard as a calamity any measures wliich they believe will tend to delay the opening up and settlement.of the large tracts of unproductive land within the County of Tauranga. 4. '" That it is of vital importance, in the interests of the local governing bodies, that every facility should be given to place these lands in. the possession of occupying aud improving.- settlers, whose rates would assist thesef bodies in performing those functions which have been .allotted to them by. your Honorable House, and which they now find it so.diffioult.tp fulfill, <- -„ , s^^We "believe-! 1 that the propose/! .Bill, should it become law, will inflict serious injustice on the native owners otherf < ther land affected by it. 6. We believe that the settlement of these lands will be most speedily promoted by the Government putting every facility in the way of men of small capital dealing directly with the natives, and by passing such laws as will enable transactions of this nature to be carried out with efficacy and despatch ; thus enabling men of small means to secure homestead by purchase direct from the native owners. We therefore pray .that your Honorable House will take the above matters 'into consideration, and not pass into law.a Bill which, in our opinion, will inflict a serious injury on both the European and native population of this district — and your petitioners will ever pray.