LANDLESS NATIVES BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2744, 17 October 1906, Page 30

LANDLESS NATIVES BILL.

In moving the committal of the South Island Landless Natives Bill in the Legislative Council yesterday the Attorneygeneral stated that it was alleged that faith had not been kept with the Natives. As to the promises of previous Governments to make reserves for them, it seemed that reserves had been set apart from time to time, but some landless Natives had not shared in the benent. It was estimated that 142,118 acres, in which were interested 4864 Natives, waro available. This was a solid attempt to meet the needs of the landless Natives in the south, and dealt with lands all over the South Island. The bill proposed to give the Natives certificates of title with a restriction to the effect that the land be absolutely inalienable except by way of exchange or lease not exceding 21 years, among the persons interested— practically the members of the family. The Hon. John Rigg commented on the enormous power the bill out in the hands of the Governor to set apart Crown lands in any part of the colony for landless Natives. He bad understood that the Crown lands were- proposed to be used as endowments for certain other . purposes He did not think that the public estate should be parted with without Parliament being consulted. There seemed to be substantial reason for dealing generously with certain Natives in the South Island, and he would support the bill, subject to amendments in committee.— The. Attorney-«eneral moved an amendment to clause 10 (powers of Native Land Court as to subdivisions, etc.) to allow of appeal to the Native Appellate Court. This, he said, was a suggestion of tho Chief Judge of the Native Land Court. —The Hon W. C. Smith thought that there should be no right of appeal. The Natives liked to go from court to court.— lhe Hon. Mr Mahuta endorsed the Hen. W. U Smith's remarks.— The» Attorney-general agreed that the effect of an appeal might be bad where a Native's interest was small. The land was not of great value, and there were over 4000 Natives. He was quite prepared to take the opinion of the Council.—On the voices the amendment was negatived and progress was reported, the interpretation clause being postponed.

THE LAND BILL DEBATE

Mr M'Nab's speech, in moving the second reading of the Land Bill, ■was mainly explanatory of the bill, and the various amendments made in it by the Land Committee. He was not quite up to his usual form, and, though his speech was attentively listened to, it was evident that he did not interest members to the extent he did in dealing wih the question in the debate on the Budget. When the Minister touched upon the concession given to the freehold sentiment by tho permission to pay off 90 per cent, of the original value the strength of the Freehold party in the House found expression in a loud chorus of dissent. "Is not the privilege of paying off the 90 per cent, better than the freehold?" he asked. "No, no." exclaimed tho freeholders, with one voice. There were frequent exclamations of disapproval during Mr M'Nab's pronouncements on this aspect of the question, tha freeholders thus making it evident that the bill is destined to meet wih some severe handling at their hands. Mr Massey. who followed Mr M'Nah, made a eood fighting speech. " What }a the principle of the bill?" he asked. "No principle at all." remarked a vc-ce from an adjacent bench, and the House laughed outright. "The bill is a leasehold bill,"' said the Leader of the Opposition. " The beet iorm of tenure the world has e\er known is the freehold tenure," he exclaimed amidst " Hear, hears " from the freeholders and expressions of d ; ssent from the leaseholders. The nsht of tfoo electors to say^ yea or nay to th? bill was referred to by* Mr Massey. "It would be the height of j impropriety on the part of the Government to attempt to force the bill upon the Statute Book until the electors have had aji opportunity of considering it from every point of view. Give us a dissolution." " I am quite prepared to go to the country upon the bill," he declared, amidst " Hear, hears" and applause. "And so sa-y all of us," broke in Mr Hornsby on behalf of th& leaseholders. Mr Massey : " Here is tho opportunity for the Government to test the j question." In conclusion, he compared the j Mi.n : ster to a young pullet strutting- about ', a farm yard with wings outstretched, and imagining that the egg it had just laid was the most wonderful egg that had ever been laid. He was found, however, during the proceedings on the Lands Committee that, the egg is a very ordinary egg after all, and -that it is apt io get broken, or. H it is. ; nfet used, to become stale. "He will never hatch it." chipped in a freeholder. "A very ordinary bill, far more likely to rea«h the waste par«r basket than the Statute Book" wa-3 the concluding word of dis- . favour.

The Premier, who then took up the running, spoke for 50 minutes. He was in excellent form, and delivered a (spirited defence of the much abused bill. He bantered Mr Massey on his reference to an appeal to the country. "The hon. gentle-

man, after preaching the freehold out and out at the general election came back with a party % of 16. Now he says give me a. dissolution. Well, a dissolution cannot do him any harm " — (laughter), — " but perhaps he is homing that his party may be increased to 17."' The Premier went on to say that " members on both sides of the House a.re moving heaven and earth to prevent the House eitting after the opening of the Exhibition." "No, no," was the interjection from members. " I say I know that is true, because they have appealed to me," was the emphatic rejoinder. "The Government intends to pass this bill if the House will assist it," the Premier added amidst the fervid applause of leaseholders and the complacent smiles of freeholders. '

second reading of £he Farriers' Bill, received ' from the other House.

The Hon. A. PITT saud he would net" oppose the second reading, but the bill would require to be very considerably amended in committee to be acceptable. After a short debate, during which the speakers expressed sympathy with the spirit of the measure, the Hon. Sir H. J. MILLER moved that the whole question of shoeing horees be referred to a Select Committee next session, and that meanwhile the bill he proceeded with no further. Ultimately the debate was adjourned, and , the Council rose at 3.30. i

The principal item of interest in connection with the proceedings in the House of