AUCKLAND MEMBERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5311, 24 June 1904, Page 5

AUCKLAND MEMBERS.

SOME SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS. * TRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, June 23. The ,usiial conference between, tho men)* bers of Parliament and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce prior to the session' of Parliament was held yesterday. Railway construction was dealt with at considerable length and an important suggestion was made with a view to opening up tho native lands, namely, that native lands should be acquired by the Government under tho Eaud for Settlement Act ■in the same way as lands owned by Europeans, and that the Public Trustee should hold the value of the land in trust for the native owners till the titles were ascertained by the Land Courts. The ‘'iniquity of freeholder! having to pay land tax while leaseholder! escape" was also dealt with. Mr P, Lawrv, in the course of hi® speech, justified the action of the Government in straightening the Hutt railway, but assured the meeting that the duplication' of the Auckland-Peurose line will be provided for this year, 'and that tho work will be completed four years hefor® the duplication of the hue. No resolutions were passed.