THE MOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1271, 28 October 1911, Page 6

THE MOUSE.

NATIVE LAND LAW.

MR. NQATA'S CLAUSE ADOPTED. The House of Representatives continued its sitting yesterday morniug until 3.20 a.m. 'One or two interesting divisions in the late'hours made the attendance rather better than has been the rule of late. At 2 o'clock thoro wero 35 members in tho House. Haif an hour later there wero 2D, add at 3 o'clock thirty members wero in their places. NATIVE LAND CLAIMS BILL. Mr. Ngata further ameuded his new clauso, in the Native Laud Claims Adjustment Bill, designed to prevent aggregation of Native leasehold lands, but it stall failed to satisfy Mr. Herries and other members who had strongly opposed the clause from the outset. Mr. HERRIES declared that if this clauso were passed it would be possible to say on the platform that no leaseholds were safe from spoliation by the. Government. Mr. HERDMAN moved tho addition of words in the first part of tho clause which would, if added, havo destroyed its retrospective effect. The amendment was negatived by 27 votes to 22. Eventually the clause, as amended by the Minister, was adopted by 27 votes to 23. It now reads:— (1) Whereas doubts have arisen as to the meaning of Part XII of the Native Land Act, 1909 (relating to limitation of area), it is hereby declared that the terms "lessee" and "sub-lessee," as used in that part of the said Act, include, and at all times heretofore have included, a lessee by assignment and a sub-lessee by assignment respectively. (2) Nothing in Part XII of the Native Land Act, 1909, shall prevent or bo deemed to have prevented the assignment or sub-letting of a leasehold estate in Native land (whatever tho area thereof, created before the commencement of that Act) to any person who does not already, at tho time when he so acquires an interest in that land, hold any other land (whether Native, European, or Crown land) exceeding nine thousand acres (calculated in accordance with that part of the said Act) ns the beneficial owner, lessee, or sublessee thereof, whether at law or in equity, and whether solely or jointly or in common with any other person. (3) Nothing in Part XII of the Nativo' Land Act, 1909, shall prevent or be deemed to have prevented the assignment or sub-letting of a leasehold estate in Native land (whatever the area thereof) created after tho commencement of that Act to any person who does not already, at the time when he so acquired an interest in that land, hold any other land (whether Native, European, or Crown land) exceeding 3000 acres (calculated in accordance with that part of tho said Act) as the beneficial owner, lessee, or sublessee thereof, whether at law or in equity and whether solely or jointly or in common with any other person. (<) This section shall bo read together with, and be deemed to be incorporated in, Part SII of tho said Act.

MILITARY PENSIONS. The Military Ponsiona Bill was considered in Committee, and reported with amendments.