PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1927, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

NATIVE LANDS AND RATES.

(Special to “Star.”)

WELLINGTON, November 25.

In moving the second reading of the Native! Washing-Up Bill, to-day, the Minister of Native Affairs (Mr Coates) said that there were several important clauses in the bill. One provision dealt with yhat was becoming a live issue these days, the> question of native rating. It was a very difficult question, and one that called for very careful handling. There were some who held that the matter could be cleared up by a few simple clauses, but he thought Members w'ould agree with him when he said that the House would see to it that the rights of Natives were very carefully preserved. This was a responsibility the House should not regard lightly. The measure which they were considering contained certain provisions which would affect outstanding rates. There were certain native lands in the Dominion, on which the accumulated rates were so heavy that the liability against the land was probably one hundred times greater than the land would be worth if it were sold. It was being questioned whether the land w r as worth any thing at all. The proposals in the bill amounted to a system of consolidation. It was proposed to apply the scheme to the King Country and North Auckland lands, two districts where it appeared that there was the greatest need for action. One could readily see that the process would be a long one, but he could not see that Parliament would be justified in taking any other course than the one proposed. There were several other points that affected the same land. In Auckland district alone there were heavy charges in regard to conserving lie'ns amounting to well over £lOO,OOO. It would be necessary to treat these conserving liens in the same way as native rates. Then there was also the question of accumulated stamp duties, amounting to £14,000 or £15,000. These had accumulated over a period of many years, and it was desirable that they should be wiped out. In many places, at the present time, where Natives owned their own land, a system of consolidation similar to that proposed in the bill had been carried out; in the Bay of Plenty arfd Rotorua districts. He believed that if they got the scheme going energetically they would be able to satisfy the local bodies.

Mr Coates went on to say that at the present time the Government had the power to take land from Natives without paying compensation. He believed that the time had definitely arrived when the Crown should forego any right it held in that direction, and that the Native, so far as compensation was concerned, should be treated in the same manner as the Pakeha. He should have the same rights to claim compensation ,and provision had been made accordingly. Mr McCombs asked if there had been any alteration made in the method of collecting rates. Mr Coates said there had been no other alteration made apart from purely administrative alterations. The collection of rates was a real problem. All that they desired to do was to be fair to the Natives. A Judge of the Native Land Court associated with certain administrative officers of the Lands Department would go fully into the question with a view to arriving at a satisfactory solution of the problem.

EDUCATION RESERVES. The Education Reserves Amendment Bill, which extends the term of leases to 21 years, with perpetual right of renewal, was passed by the House today. The Government was congratulated by Labour and other members on the Bill. Mr McLeod, replying on the second reading, said that in land legislation, the Government’s aim had always been to act. in the interests of the whole country. He contended that freehold was beneficial to the State as a whole.

The Leader of the Opposition asked why if that was the case, the Minister had not provided for freehold in thO Bill.

Mr McLeod said he was not responsible for education leases, but if he were he would do so. He knew that quite a number of these leases should be cut up into smaller areas and more effectively occupied. The Government’s aim. had always been in that direction. When one saw poorly farmed land, it might be generally assumed it was an education lease . If there were to be endowments they should be in towns where there was easy access and improvements.

MOTOR “LORRY.”

An amendment to the Public Works Act introduced to-night, proposes to amend the definition of a motor terry, bv eliminating the word “used/ for hire or used for commercial purposes, in (he carriage of passengers and goods,” the definition then covering every motor vehicle which with its maximum load exceeds two tons. These vehicles come under the terms of heavy traffic license provisions. The Minister is authorised to sell on deferred payment any land taken under the Public Works Act, but not needed for public works. There is a clause applying to the construction of roads principally benefiting another district. The terms of the principal Act enable the proportions of cost to be ascertained by inquiry and the amount of contribution to be raised, if necessary by loan, in addition. This procedure will apply to additions to bridges or complete or partial rebuilding.