Political Intelligence.

Southland Times, Issue 9693, 6 December 1887, Page 2

Political Intelligence.

[By Telegbaph.J

(FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, Dec. 5.

Tho Land Bill was again before the Waste Lands Committee tbis morning. Clause 15 waa reached but. as a matter of fact, nothing definite has been done with regard to the clauses already considered, and the bill will be subjected to a close revision, the committee considering that it is the measure of the session. The three native policy billsof the Government have been circulated and willbe introduced iv the Legislative Council tomorrow, Xlje bills _re the Maori Raal Estate Management Bii), the Native Lands Court, Act, 1380, Amendment Ud), and the Native Land Administration Act Repeal Bill. The last two measures are tbe most important. The Lands Court Aot Amendment Bill simply legislates to remedy defects in the present Native Land Court procedure; the Native Land Administration Act Repeal Bill is intended to reverse Mr Ballance'e policy Jin native land administration. Tbe crucial clauses are as follows : — Any person who before the first day of July, 1886, obtained the signature of a native owner of land or of a sbare therein to a deed or instalment piuporting to be _ conveyance, transferor lease of such land or sbare therein, may at any time prior to thu Ist July next obtain, in tbe case of a conveyance or transfer, the signatures ot the owners to a conveyance or transfer, and, in the case of a leaße, the signatures of the owners to a lease of auoh land for a term not exceeding that named in such first mentioned lease, provided he has duly notified the fact of such purchase or letse under seotion 24 of the said Act (1886) or shall deliver such a notification to ihe Chief Judge before the Ist day of ilarch next, and has obtained or shall hereafter outam tho certificate of a judge ot the Nauve Lands Cuuri that he had obtained a mguaturo as firstly thereinbefore mentioned before tho Ist day of Jnly, 1880. A lease ot laud owned by a native ur natives for a term, not less than one third of which had txpired on the Ist July, 1886, may, as to tbe whole or partof die Und tlio subject of such lease, be renewed for a furtberteim not exceeding 14 \ears upou Buch terms as may be agreed iijiua. Pieviout* rtuevvuls are also pro* tected. Tnere waa a very dead-and-alive feeling in the House this afternoon when the Representation Bill came on for second reading. The Premier moved it in a dozon words. Then the question was put and after the voices were taken the Speaker allowed Mr Taiwhanga, the bore of tbe House, to speak. Then the other native membera had a say ; than Mr Saddon got up and after tbat tbo debate waxed some wi at warmer, but there was not much heart in it. It is siiii goiDg on dismally. Mr Joyca to-day gave noiice to ask the Government if they will during the recess communicate with the Government of C :uada asking if any reciprocal tariff treaties and the details thereof have been proposed or entered into between Canada and tho United States of America ; also if there have been any communicationsduring the past threo years between tbis colony and any one or more of the colonies of Australasia suggesting reciprocal tariff treaties, and, if not, will the Government during the recess open a correspondence with those colonies advocating snch proposals ? ___________________