RECEIPTS FROM ROYALTIES

Southland Times, Issue 23376, 7 December 1937, Page 8

RECEIPTS FROM ROYALTIES

BENEFIT TO OWNER OF LAND SOUGHT

OPPOSITION AMENDMENT MOVED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, December 6. An interesting development occurred during the debate on the Petroleum Bill in the House of Representatives tonight when an Opposition amendment was moved designed to refer the Bill back to the Government in order that provision might be made for property owners on whose land oil might be found, to share in the receipts from royalties. The only real argument advanced against the Bill concerned royalty payments and the exclusion of both Maori and European land owners from any possible benefits. The attitude of the Maoris, expressed by the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata (Nat., Eastern Maori) was somewhat surprisingly supported by Mr E. T. Tirikatene (Lab., Southern Maori) who also contended that the Government had tended to overlook the claims of Maoris under the Treaty of Waitangi. Soon afterwards an amendment was moved by Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Nat., Waitomo). Its effect was that a proportion of the petroleum royalty should be paid to all owners of land, except in cases where the title held by the owqpi- specified that the mineral rights should be the property of the Crown. A further proviso was that owners of native land should receive at least 50 per cent, of the royalty payable to the Government on oil obtained from their lands, the actual amount to be agreed upon between the Government and the natives concerned.

Even before anyone from the Opposition benches had a chance to second Mr Broadfootis amendment the Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) rose and moved the adjournment of the debate. The impression gained from this was that the Government desires more time in which to consider the whole question of royalties and in particular the rights of the native race.