NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6485, 30 September 1892, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

SECOND READING OF VALIDATION BILL. (from our own correspondent). Wellington, to-day. Mr Cadtnan, in moving the second reading of the Validation of Titles Bill, said the Bill de.ilfc with a question which had caused anxiety to the Government for the past fifteen years, and it proposed to[give relief to people who, having broken no law, have had their titles taken from them on account of erroneous technicalities and informalities. Members held views at variance, and he agreed with Sir Geo. Grey thafc those who had broken the law should pay the penalty. This Bill gave no relief to that class of persons, but, there were many others who, having done no wrong, were suffering injury. Settlement was stopped in some parts of tho North Island in consequence, and there was a general demand that there should be a finality in Native matters. (Hear, hear.) It was contended that the tribunal to hear the cases should be a commission, but he thought that too costly. The last commission cost L 8720, only fourteen applications were dealt with, and the result had been practically nil, except that experience had been gained, while the cost of the Native Land Court taking the cases would be small. The Bill was generally approved of, and he hoped that it would pass. Mr Rees said the Bill was good in its desires, but the machinery was in no way adequate. Ifc was wrong to refer these cases to the Court which had committed these errors, thus causing the necessity of these applications. The Native Land Court would be perfectly unable to deal with these matteis, as there were thousands of cases awaiting trial in that Court. The Native land question was a question practically uncared for in the House, and lie asked those members who were talking so loudly to eive some attention to the debate. It would be the greatest mockery the Legislature could pass to provide for the Native Lands Court to deal with these cases. Fie said a strong Parliamentary Committee should be set up to probe these matters to the bottom, and then this terrible national evil could be dealt with finally. If they did not immediately do something, they would be committing a national crime. The Judges of tho Native Land Courts were hardly fit to be Resident Magistrates, yet they dealt with properties worth a quarter of a million in an hour. The Native Land Court had been misinterpreting the law since 1865. The Natives had no confidence in it, and wanted it to be swept away. Messrs Buckland, Houston, and Lawry supported the Bill. Sir George Grey said they had to decide whether a groat landed aristocracy was to be set up, or whether children were to be deprived of their land and placed in the condition of serfs. He knew of one. case where, if this Bill passed, one family would get 110,000 acres of freehold, subject to no conditions of cultivation. It would be neglecting the interests of the country to allow vast tracts of land to be taken from the people of New Zealand. The Bill was an iniquitous and monstrous measure. Mr Tmpua did not think the Bill was for the benefit of the Natives. ' The close of the session was not a fitting time to bring it forward. He corroborated Mr Rees's story of the grievous errors of the Native Land Court. The Bill dealt only with the grievances of Europeans, who in many cases had trampled the law under foot. The Native Land Court was far too costly to litigants. Mr Kapa said it was a measure depriving the Natives of their lands and affecting three million acres. He asked for the postponement of the Bill till next session. He thought they should revert to the old system of purchase of Native lands, when tho purchase money was handed over to the chiefs, who distributed it fairly. Sir W. Kelly urged for a finality to these Native matters, He favored a commission, as the Land Courts had plenty of other work to do. He did not believe in j Native committees,| which Mr Reea was so anxious to have. Mr VV. Hutchison, as a Southern member, «aid he entertained a feelinsr of shame at the manner in which Native legislation was shunted from session to session. If he had his own will he would have Parliament sit a whole month to discuss nothing but Native matters. Tho present Acts should be swept into the waste papor basket, and one comprehensive measure passed. Mr Shera opposed the machinery. Mr Cadman, briefly replying, read an opinion from the Chief Judge to the effect that the Land Courfc Judges could easily take the cases coming under this Bill. The Bill was then read a second time, and referred to the Native Affairs Committee,