NATIVE LAND BILL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 651, 25 August 1891, Page 2

NATIVE LAND BILL.

PUBLIC MEETING. The unanimity of opinion on the principle of tho Native Land Bill introduced by tho Native Minister was in a way demonstrated by tho attendance at the public meeting held at the City Rink last night. The Mayor (Mr Townley) occupied the chair. The Mayor referred to the great importance of the question, and the way that complications had accumulated, but the progress of settlement made it urgently necessary that there shonld be a desirable reform, 800,000 or a million acres of land I being affected by it. He had a telegram from Lieutenant-Colonel Porter (at Tologa Bay) who apologised for non attendance, but gave assurance that the Bill was the most equitable measure of the kind yet framed. Section 142, re consent of a Judge, might bo modified in operation. Section 217 and following should be expunged, as the natives wars adverse to a board of administration. The Mayor said that this expression of opinion from one who had so much experience was entitled to considerable weight, Mr DeLautour said the Chairman had rather under-rated the area of land affected. The speaker went on to deal in n trenchant manner with the existing anomalies, and warmly supported the Bill before the House, which he said might be termed an enfranchisement of titles fer the North Island. The principle of the Bill was to extinguish all native titles, and with collateral rest riotions, make the land as free of alienation as ordinary chattels, and it also provided for reviewing past transactions and giving a sound title where the transactions were shown to be equitable, safeguards being provided against any abuse of power. The excellent manner in which the Bill had been drawn up entitled the able officer to their congratulations. Referring to the question of administrative boards of natives he held that the course which politics were now taking in regard,'to land, overruled the old idea as to tha rights of individuals in regard to land, and they should not go so far as to give native boards more than a limited power. They m’ght not all agree in regard to the little details of the Bill, but they should give their hearty support to it as the best measure on the whole that had ever beeo brought down, It would, if passed, do fifiy times more to promote settlement than would Mr McKenzie’s Land Bill, and he oould see nothing that would redound more to the credit of Government than this Bi 1 it passed this session. (Applause.) He moved — That tha Govsrnment Native Land Bill is, as a whole, eminently adapted to further the true interests of settlement of the North Island, and to meet the special requirements of the East Coast district. 2. That every effort should be made by the Government to pass the Bill this session. 3. That a Committee consisting of Messrs E. F. Harris, F. Skeet, A. O. Arthur, W. Cooper, John Clark, and the mover, with power to add to their number; be appointed to draw up detail recommendations in respect to the clauses dealing wilh permitted alienations, aad tha administration of a Board which appears to require further consideration, Mr Joyce seconded the resolution, considering the Bill, so far as he had judged, one of the best devised. The peculiarity about it was that all classes ware in favor of it, and he said he believed that if it passed it would be one of the greatest bsnefl'.s conferred on the district. He referred to the great difficulties in native laws, citing Mr Arthur’s case, and said ths sweeping away of all the old complicated lawa would be one of tha best points in the Bill, (Applause.) Mr Siavwright highly approved of qhe Bill in principle. He did not believe in native administrative boards, thinking all land should bo passed through the Crown, but others did not endorse this view. The Bill was the best attempt yet made to face the whole tiiffi mlty. (Apphnsa.) Mr E F. Harris considered tha Mi '.i=tcr was to be congratulated upon ths Bill, but was afraid that too much was being aimed at in trying this session to deal with past transactions. Ha did not think that tha Bill would assimilate native titles to those held by Europeans, as was shown by the natives having to go before a Judge. He strongly opposed a colonial administrative board of three natives, saying that tribal jealousies would prevent it working satis factorily. As to surveys and reais, the expense would in many cases absorb the value of the land, much of which was poor. He agreed with those who said tax native land, but they should first be given a proper title.

Mr Bright said that as the Liberal side had had most to say that evening, an humble member of the Conservative party might say a little to back up the Bill. He said, as coming fcomjthe South, he considered the present state of things a disgrace, and any Government that devised a maasure to settle this difficulty would be entitled to their support. They should show the Native Minister, without pretending that the Bill was perfect in nil its details, that they heartily approved of it in principle. If tho large blocks of land that were shortly to be offered wore sold, and this measure became law, he predicted that there wonld be a boom in tho district that would make them all have smiling faces. The Chairman, in putting the motion, said their experience of short temporary measures was that they ware always unsatisfactory. He oonaidsred the Bill a splendid conception to meet the difficulty, but tha latter part regarding administrative boards might even be left out—it was evident); put in as a concession to tha views held by Mr Rees on committees, but when there was a more comprehensive measure to meet the whole question the friends of that view should give way to the general good. (Applause.) Mr Bright suggested that Captain Tucker’s name be added (0 tha Committee.

Captain Tucker referred attention to the Poulutu Act, which had by a side wind dragged in two other blocks that oould be settled in the European Courts, and ths decision on which appeared as far off as over. He would like the matter referred to the attention of the Committee.

The Chairman said this showed the neces-ily for one comprehensive Act, and he baliev.d tha Bill would be the best thing that oiuld ba done fir the district. Of course a few details could be attended to in Committee. The motion was carried unanimously, and it was arranged that the Committee should meet at Mr DeLsutour’s ofiioeat 3 to-morrow aftetneoa.