New Zealand Parliament

Colonist, Volume XXXI, Issue 5277, 27 July 1888, Page 4

New Zealand Parliament

WBLMNOXON\\JuIy 25. HOIISO; The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Roiis's Compensation and Mr MaoKenaie's Land Bills were read for the first time. On the motion of the Premier, it Mas agreed the Government business should take precedence on Thursdays after to-morrow. The Middle Island Half-Caste Grants and Westlandand Grey Education Boards Bills were read fur tha third time and passed. - On tbe motion for committal of the Native Land Bill, Sir George Grey moved the Biil bo committed that day three months, on the ground that the Bill had been greatly altered by tbe Committee to which it was referred, and tbe Natives had received no notice of such alterations. The Premier expressed surprise at Sir G. Gray's action, Beeiug the original taxation proposals bad been modified. The Natives should receive fair notice that they were going to be taxed, but they must ierne ruber that large Maoti estates were blocking tbe settlement just as much as any other land nionopjly. The Natives could not expect much louxer to escape their natural burdens. He belisved the ftative tills would prove acceptable to all Maoris, except those who held exaggerated ideas of what was due t» them. Mr Hutchison held that Maoris could scarcely be consider, d to escape taxation while they had special stamp and other duties to pay, which fell heavily on them. He complained the promise had not been kept to circulate Native Bills among the Maoris before the Session, and urged thee was no pressings ot-ssity for this particular measure, and the Natives should be allowed time to consider it. Mr Carroll, while admitting the Natives must in the near future be brought under ordinary taxation, thought tha present .time inappropriate, and more so as a tax would praotioaily be unoollectable and quite useless for revenue purposes. They should bend all their energies new to place the land question on a satisfactory footing, and not encumber it with other issues. Before imposing taxes the Maoris < should be placed on an equal footing with Europeans in all respects. The period allowed in the Bill for individualising the titles was altogether too shirt. It would need an army of Judges. Assessors and Surveyors to get through the work in time. Ha ttrougly uiged the Government not to push the measure any further at present, Taiaioa repeated his former objection to taxing. The proposals and provisions of the Bill had caused widespread dissatisfaction Bmong the Natives since thoy had become generally known. Supposing they could not pay uhe taxes, would they all be arrested for debt ? Mr Bruee did not believe in rushing people into the Colony, and consequently did not viaw the spectacle of large blocks withheld from settlement with very great aveision. What he did believe, however, was that if proper precautions were not taken the Maoris woutd very soon be landless in the land of their forefathers. He supported the Bill because it provided res.rictions against undue alienation of land, but he thought taxation should not be imposed until titles were individualised. Mr Ballance thought the Native members should have taken exception to the taxation proposals at an earlier pariod, as the intention of tbe Government was well known. He did not, however, think the Minister had explained the matter to the meetings of Natives in various places as he should have done It had been conclusively proved to his mind that these rates could not be collected. He also pointed out that in tbe Biil as amended, owners of Native land had to make appli. cations to Coutts to fix title, but there was no such tbing as Native owners until tbe Court had settled who'they were; besides they had no moans of forcing Natives to japply to Courts. The expense of individualising the titles in a great many oases would be tea times the value of the land. Taiwhanga said they had just h d several Maoris killed under the present Land Act, and what would it be if this Bill passed. He entered at length into tha merits of the dispute at Whan*arei, »nd related the efforts he had made at various limes to adjust it. Dr Newmao. v:ewed the prospect of the land along the Northern Trunk line being thrown open to speculators with alarm, and would ruthtr see the Biil rejected than the railway hung up, as would be the case. Mr Samuel could not see the necessity for insisting on individualization of title to enable taxation to be imposed. Tbe administration of Native Land Courts ought to be jealously watched new their powers were to be extended. His experience of these Courts had not impressed him favorably, a^d 'tmUsd they showed improvement, he confessed gray« doubis about the propriety of (■ntrusting such impoitam functions to them. He pointed out several directions in which tbe Bill might be an.tad. d with advantage, but on the wbole„gave it hearty support. Mr Pratt, like other Native members, objected to the taxation clauses. If this phase of the question mutt le introduced, he would prefer to see it embodied in a separate Bill. Mr Kelly was strengly in favor of the Biil. Sir George Grey raised a question that the Bill being one imposing taxation, it sboald have been introduced in Committee of tha whole. The Speaker said when in Committee the Chairman could order any clauses of a taxing nature to be held aver, and properly introduce if he aaw fit. After some further discussion the amendment was lost by U to 12, and the Bill ordered to be oommitted. Mr Scobie McKensit spoke egainst the point mentioned by Sir George Grey. The Speaker admitted the usual practice was to introduce such Bills in Committee, but it had not been strictly carried out, Mr Mitchelson moved tha Native Land Court Bill be committed. Sir George Grey again pretested these Bills would be absolutely ruinous to Maoris, whose lands would pass into the hands of a few favored Europeans. Mr Taipna, Mr Hutchison, and Mr Taiwhanga opposed the Bill. July 26. House met at 2.30. In reply to questions it was sta'ed—That it would cost a quarter *of a million to fence all the railway lines in the Colony.—That a Bill would be brought in authorising lhe Property' Tax Commissioner to take Borough valuations as the basis of assessment for the Property Tax purposes.—That tbe Public Works Statement will be brought down some day next week. Mr Samuel resumed the debate on the S'cond reading of the New Plymouth Hospital Bill. Motion agreed to by 36 to 19. The Ngaruawahia Cemetery Leasing Bill. Ksiapoi Drill Sh?d Bill, Waifcato Model Farm Bill, and the Christchuroh Bine Range Bill all passed. through Committee, were read a third time and passed. House resumed at 7.30. TLo Otago Central Railway Bill was further considered in Committee. Sir George Grey and Mr Fish strongly opposed' Cause 3, which provides that the Governor may enter into a contract for the •onstruclio n'bi the line. The Premier be^ed the opponents not to age obstructive tactics. If the line was not made by a company, he was certain pressure

would be brought to bear to ooapleU it oat of loan. ' i Mr J. M'Keniie said he was opposed to land grants, besides the line would not pay if it were extended beyond Taieri Lake. Sir George Grey spoke strongly against the land being alienated in the way proposed. He begged Mr Fyke not to press the Bill further. ; MrFiih moved to report progress. After some diaoogsion, and long speeches by Mr R. Thompson and Mr Duuoan, the motion was lost. Sir George Grey said he firmly believed it to be their duty to obstruot the Bill in every possible way, aud he called upo> those who tided with him not to give. way. He was prepared to sit there till the next evening if anyone would stay with him. Mr Reeves (St Alban's) said he did not see why the reporters need be kept there if the members had to suffer ia the cause of their country. He called the attention of the Speaker to the presence of strangers in the House. The galleries were accordingly cleared, and the reporters left the Honse sitting.