THE NATIVE POLICY BILLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9102, 10 July 1888, Page 5

THE NATIVE POLICY BILLS.

MEETING OF MEMBERS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. A largely-attended meeting of members took place to consider the Native Policy Bills of the Government. Mr Ballance presided. After some preliminary discussion it was resolved to propose a new clause in the Native Land Bill, to the effect that no person or company shall after the passing of the Act hold by purchase from the natives, or by transfer from any person, more than 5000 acres of native land, and of leasehold land not more than 15,000 acres. Another amendment which was decided upon was that all leases shall embody the principle of tenant right, and all the improvements shall belong to the tenant at the end of the term. With this view it was Eroposed that the section of the Native and Act of 1885 applicable to this matter, be embodied in the Act. Other matters of minor importance were also considered. A general meeting of the Auckland members and of both supporters and opponents of the Bills, is convened for Wednesday by Mr. Kelly, chairman of the Native Affairs Committee. It is hoped that a common agreement will be come to on the subject, with a view of passing these measures into law. Mr. Kelly has submitted the amendments discussed at to-day's meeting to the Native Minister, who in general terms expressed his approval of them. A large and influential deputation of native chiefs, attended by Messrs. Jas. Carroll and Sidney Taiwhanga, waited on the Premier and Native Minister to-day, relative to the Native Policy Bills. Paora Tuhaere, of Orakei, read a lengthy document on native affairs and Maori Home Rule, comprising some 40 pages of foolscap. It deals with everything from the earliest days to thosedbf Rusden, the veracious historian, and seemed to indicate the fine Roman hand of Sidney Taiwhanga. Mr. Carroll said the natives generally approved of the free trade in land which was allowed by the Act, but they objected to the taxing clauses, as the time had not3et come for that, their lands being differently circumstanced to those of the Europeans. The Native Minister said whenever he went among the natives their song was : We are not now children ; let us deal with our land, and put us on the same level with the Europeans." Apparently what was wanted was all the privileges of the Europeans, but leaving the latter with all the burdens of taxation. He said one of the "fences" of the Act was that provision was made to prevent the natives from denuding themselves of the land necessary for their maintenance. If the time mentioned in the Bill was too short in which to bring in the taxation he was willing to extend it to five years, but it was time the principle of taxation was admitted by the natives. The Premier said he would consider the representations of the chiefs. He proposed to refer the Bills to a joint committee of members of both Houses, to be chosen for their experiences i of native matters, with a view to their suggesting amendments, so that a good workable measure might be passed, and something like finality attained in native legislation.