PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20056, 11 October 1930, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS. ÜBBXBGES FKEBS tSaOOATIOB BXPOBT.) WELLINGTON, October 10. Consideration of the Public Works Estimates was continued in Committee of Supply in the House of Repersentatives after the Telegraph Office closed this morning, members discussing points on the lines indicated during the debate on the Statement. The Estimates were passed. The Acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, replying to the Leader of. the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, said he hoped that the end of the session would be reached by the end of next week. The House rose at 3.15 s.m. On resuming at 10.30 a.m. the Tramways Amendment Bill (the Hon. W. B. Taverner) was introduced and read a first time. The Property Law Amendment Bill (with amendments), the Destitute Persons Amendment Bill (with amendment), and the Companies AmendmPnt Bill (without amendment) were reported from the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hawke's Bay Rivers Amendment Bill was reported from the Lands Commtitee without amendment.

City Betterment. The Local Bills Committee, reporting on the Wellington City Betterment Bill, recommended that the Bill be not allowed to proceed, but expressed the opinion that the principle of betterment should be applied to the Dominion as a whole by means of a Betterment Bill. Mr R. McKeen (Lab., Wellington South) said that the activties of municipalities with regard to town planning were consderably restricted owing to their ■ inability to charge property owners with a share of the cost of improving city streets. Some Wellington pro- • perties had increased enormously in value as. a result of street widening. A long discussion on the report of the 'Committee ensued. Mr W. J. Jordan (Lab., Mannkauj moved'that the report should be referred back to the Committee for further consideration. He said that the Bill had been introduced at the request of the Wellington City Council, to which it was a matter of importance, and it was at least entitled to a second reading debate. Mr M. J. Savage fLab., Auckland West) seconded the amendment. The amendment was lost on the voices, and the report was laid on the table. Amendments made in the Legislative Council to the Nurses and Midwives Registration Amendment Bill were agreed to.

Native Land BilL In moving for the committal of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment (.Washing-Up) Bill, the Hon. Sir A. T. Ngata, said the settlement of titles to Native lands was being carried oat by stages, in some areas titles had already been adjusted and were on a basis that would be appreciated by Europeans. The policy which had been conducted by the previous administration, and which was being continued by the present Government, consisted of consolidation schemes within tribal boundaries.father Shan in county districts. The object of the consolidation of ctitlea was. to enable the Maori to deal with bis land or farm it as he might be disposed.' Another activity of the Native Department was the disposal of lands which could not be of any use to Maoris. Such lands had In some instances been sold to forestry companies when it-was appar ent they were not wanted by the Crown He instanced'a case in the Taupo district of a block valued at 4s 6d an acre, being sold to a certain afforests tion company at 30s an acre. He did not think that conflicted with any policy that had been laid down by the House, and it was profitable to the Maoris. A member: wnat about the shareholders in the company f v The Minister:. They can look -after themselves.

Jfjr Tan Henare (8., Northern Maori) said- the present Native' Minister was a man' who understood the' recjuiromentS' of the Maoris and he-assured ' the ?House: that any assistance, granted to the Natives through. the Minister . wonld be; used in. a manner that would enable. them to-play the part in" the country's development that was expected of them. It mi important that the. Maoris should be assisted , now lest. the calamity of becoming landless should befall them. Mr T. Makitanara (U., Southern Maori) preferred to: the early -history of -the! Native; lands, ; and- .said • that 'the; Natives had lived on-promises, \ but legis-. lation - was now .going enacted and he;wished to congratulate the Native ■ Minister on that. He "referred to Native- reserves in-the ;South Islandand laidthat the Bill would assist Na : tives Interested in them The debat® was continued by, a number of members. .who referred to.matters of local ;inter est. ■ The Leader of the Opposition,,, theBt. Hon. J. G. Coate6, said it seemed to him" that, the: cost of developing 1 Na tive land* might be more than - thff Maoris could meet. • Some of -them were concerned about'the posMbility ,that they would not -be able to meet the -repayments. He asked the Minister not-to force paymentin such cases,hntto..allow the Maoris- to accept responsibility - as far as they, could meet ,i* The Native should accept his responsibility provided he had . a • fighting chance. , but failing that, oatienee- should' be exercised •; towards him. He asked . the Minister whether he would appoint a Commission ; to consider Native grievances. The Minj ister deserved commendation- for the i wfrlt he wan d-'ing. SiT A. T. Ngata, reply, agreed tha' it . was important to keep a close watch ;on expenditure and avoid posing tpo heaw a. financial "burden on t.be Natives. He wonld recommend to Cabinet that n Commission, should' be appointed' as Mr Coates had suggested. . The motion ' was. adopted. -

Imprest Bill. The Imprest Supply Bill (No. 4) was introduced 1\ Governor-General's Messageand ■* was accorded urgency. - (Left Sitting). LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON. October 10: The Legislative Council met at 2.50 'p.m.. . Tte -Bpn M. Fagan r the . Government would- consider- the ndvisabrlity >of recommending to the r'nemployniflnt Board the" sending* out of. prospecting .parties; to prospect - for gola. in Roefton and other; gold minine districts... . . ' Replying, -'the. Hon R. Masters said thp matter ;was under consideration by the Government .The Council disagreed "with the amendments made by the House ,in the New .Zealand University Atnendroejnt Bill" and set, up a committee to tfftivr up reasons to submit to-the Honse.,. „ The Oooncil rasa at 2.40