LATE PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8277, 19 October 1905, Page 5

LATE PARLIAMENTARY.

(By Telegraph — Press Associatio?i.)

Wellington, This Day,

After tho Telegraph Office closed the Maori Land Settlement Bill was further considered in Committee.

In the course of further discussion on Hon. J. Carroll's proposed new clause, providing that the Crown may acquire any Native land by purchase from tho Native owners, or from the majority in value of such owners, Messrs Ell, Laurenson and Hogg put in a strong plea in favour of tho land acquired from Maoris being held as State property and not sold outright. .

Sub-section 2, providing that land, where acquired from Maoris, may be dealt with under tho provisions of the Maori Land Administration Act of 1900, was struck out.

Hon. J. Carroll moved in substitution of a provision. that land, when acquired, shall be dealt with under the Land Act of 1892.

To this Mr Ell moved an amendment that the land, so acquired, shall not be alienated, except by lease for a term of ninety years.

This was lost by 28 to 11, and Hon. J Carroll's proposal was agreed to.

A now sub-clause was added, providing that the provisions of the clause shall not apply till Ist January, 1908, so far as the East Coast and north of Auckland districts are concorned.

The clause, as amended, was added to the Bill.

Another new clause was agreed to, empowering the Colonial Treasurer to raise £200,000 for the acquisition of lands under the Bill.

It was also provided that before the land is acquired,' a sufficient area must be set aside for the owners' use.

The remaining clauses were passed with some modifications, and the Bill was reported at 3.30 a.m.

The amendments made in committee were agreed to, and the third reading was deferred.

The House rose at 3.35 a.ra