PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18809, 3 December 1932, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES .

NATIVE LAND. UNPAID RATES. CABINET TO CONSIDER. WELLINGTON, Friday. His intention to discuss with thS Cabinet the question of investigation into the problem of rates on native land was announced by the Prime Minister, Mr Forbes, when the Native Land Amendment Bill was under discussion in tlie House of Representatives to-day. Mr Forbes said he realised the magnitude of the burden placed on local bodies by the nonpayment of native rates. Mr K. S. Williams (Government—> Bay of Plenty) said the Government should face the position and determine whether the policy was to be that natives should or should not pay rates. If it were decided that they were not to pay rates then an amount should be provided from the Consolidated Fund, for it was obviously unfair to expect European ratepayers to make up the deficiency. It was a good thing to encourage natives to settle their lands, but side by side with that they should be taught to accept the same privileges of citizenship as the pakeha. Mr Forbes said that everyone engaged in the farming industry was experiencing difficulty in regard to the payment of rates and an intolerable burden was being thrown on local bodies, with whom lie sympathised. Those local bodies in districts where there was a large area of native lands were probably feeling the pressure more than other parts of the Dominion. Many of the local bodies affected had made representations to him and asked that something be done to relieve the position. He realised to the full the difficulties of Maoris with the present low prices for primary produce. It also had to be remembered that natives did not get the same out of their land as pakehas. FIRE BRIGADES. BILL’S SECOND READING. WELLINGTON, Friday. \ Moving the second reading of tha Fire Brigades Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-day the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. A. Hamilton, said the measure was largely based on the various recommendations from fire boards, the Municipal Association and the Audit Office. The main feature of the Bill gave power for the formation of an Auckland metropolitan district, but there were similar powers for the formation of such districts at Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin if desired. The bill was read a second time.