Parliament

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 277, 3 November 1924, Page 7

Parliament

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE CLOSING STAGES. NATIVE LAND RATING BILL. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, Nov. 1. In the House of Representatives, in moving tho second reading of the Native Land Rating Bill, the Hon. J. G* v Coates expressed the pride of country felt by every New Zealander and eulogised the work of the Ethenological Board m placing on record an accurate account of the native people who populate the country and how they divided the land among themselves. These titles were derived sometimes by occupation and sometimes by. conquest. In either case they were dear to those who held them. Then the war- with the Europeans intervened and some of these lands were confiscated, with the result that the loss of their territory rankled in the breasts of the natives for several generations. It was, under these circumstances, pleasant to find the native members of the House assisting the Government to clear away difficulties which naturally arose between the two races in the occupation of native land. The bill before the House would, he thought, go a long wav to this end. The bill provides for native land to be liable to rates in the same manner as if it were European land. Exemptions are made for the customary land —native land not exceeding five acres occupied by burial grounds and not more than j&ve acres on which a native meeting house is erected. Other classes of native land may be exempted by. Orderrin-Council. Where native land is vested in trust in a Maori Land Board, the Native Trustee or East Coast Commissioner, the trustee is reguired to pay all rates on that land, ut only to the extent of the net revenue received on behalf of the beneficiary owners of the land affected. There are provisions for the recovery of rates on native land with a proviso that the same right of appeal as that exercised by the ordinary ratepayer may be held. Where it is decided rates are payable a charge over the land may be made to secure recovery. If the charge remains unpaid for a period of more than twelve months the land affected may be vested in the Native Trustee to be sold for the recovery of rates. It may, however, in the discretion of the Native Trustee, be mortgaged instead of sold. Local authorities are given power to remit rates due on native land, either wholly or in part. Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) asked why such an important bill was brought down at such a lato stage of the session. There were many contentious matters in it and local bodies ought to be consulted. He asked the Minister to hold the bill over to give time for further consideration. Tho Hon. A. T. Ngata supported tho bill generally, as did Sir M. Pomare. The bill was then passed through tho remaining stages without opposition. “WASHING UP” BILL. The committee resumed consideration of tho remaining clauses in tho “Washing Up” Bill. A clause constituting a committee of local bodies to decide as to safeguards in connection with the operation of the proposed Quay street railway in the city, of Auckland was struck out in response to opposition from the member for Waiemata, whose district was attested. When the House resumed at 7.30 tho remainder of the available clauses in the “Washing Dp” Bill were agreed to and progress was again reported. JXICAL BILLS. Tho following local bills were passed:—Hauraki Plains County Council Empowering Bill,-with an amendment that tho loans specified must be raised in the terms of the Local Bodies Loans Act, 1913; Wellington City and Suburban Highways Construction and Hutt Hoad Amendment Bill. Wanganui City Council Vesting and Empowering Bill. Considerable discussion took place on the Wellington City Milk Supply 'Amendment Bill and at 10.10 the debate was adjourned on the motion ot the Hon. W. Nosworihy, and the House immediately rose until 7.30 on Monday night.