HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4264, 31 August 1882, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday. The Public Reserves Sale Bill was introduced and read a first time, and the Counties Act Amendment Bill was read a second time after some debate. CROWN AND NATIVE LANDS BATING ACT. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Crown attd Native Lands Rating Act. The principle of this Bill was that the land should maintain the roads. Mr Montgomery argued that the accumulating rate would be liable to eat up the entire value of the land. Mr De Lautour contended it was necessary that the native owners should be advised of the amount of rate which was accumulating on the land, paid from time to time by the Government.

Mr Macandrew strongly denounced the Bill as an attempt to endow the North Island Boards at the expense of the colony.

Sir John Hall dissented from that doctrine; the bill proposed a simple act of justice. In the North Island roads had to be made through native lands—the lands benefited by the roads, and it was only fair the owners should subscribe towards their maintenance.

Mr W. Green supported the bill, and Sir George Grey opposed it, as also did Messrs Tomoana and Tawhai. The second reading was carried by 38 to 21.

This day. After the usual adjournment, the debate on the Bating Bill was continued by Messrs Kelly, Montgomery, and Barron, who opposed the bill, and Mr Shepherd, who supported it, as he thought capital value preferable to annual value. Messrs Duncan, Seddon, and Sbrimski opposed the bill, as the rates should be based on the annual value. Mr Montgomery opposed the bill altogether, and Messrs Fish and Fulton spoke in its favor. Mr Munro heartily supported it. The second reading was carried on the voices, and the House rose at 1 until noon to-day.