PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 15 July 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE CONCLUDED. ' THE LAND QUESTION. The debato on tho Address-in-Heply was continued in the Legislative Council yesterday. • Tho Hon. G. JONES (Otago) replied at some length to the arguments of the Hon. J. E. Sinclair (Otago) on tho laud question. He said, that he failed to see any very wide difference between tho lcase-in-periictuity and the freehold. The main issue was what was the Government going to do with the remnant of Crown lands. Would it sell them ns freehold or leaso thorn so that they would return to the State from intervals of revaluation what tho State was entitled to? The lease-in-pcrpetuity settlers on resumed lands would in a few years pay the wliolo cost of their properties on the 'highest scale, and whatever came from them afterwards in the sliapp of rentals would, belong to the State. The freeholders wore controlling the politics of this country. Any man who would sell the lands of nis country as freehold would fritter away his birthright . and the patrimony of his children and their children. He had listened to Dr. Findlay on this question, and had thought that if only no could shuffle off for a few moments his official position and express ' his own opinions Jie. would_ show liimsclf to bo a leaseholder. (Voices: "Oh, no. no!"). ... A "Liberal" Land System. . The Hon. J. MARSHALL (Westlaud) expressed the opinion that the present land laws were liberal, and should suit all desires. He entirely agreed with Dr. Findlay that it was less a question of tenure than of territory. The ballot system did not give entire satisfaction, but it was probably tho best principle, that could be adopted to give tbe poor selector a chance to get on the land. He did not think that there iiad been gambling in leaseholds tu any great extent. He thought that it was both necessary and very important to appoint Government officers to get peoplo 'on the electoral rolls. While approving of the Government's water-power scheme, lie hoped that it would still be possible for legitimate private enterprise to develop the smaller streams, while the State held control of the main rivers. Worst of All Tenures'. . The Hon. J. M'GOWAN (Auckland) contended that the lease-in-perpetuity was the worst form of tenuro ever introduced in any country. There could be no difference of opinion as to the injury done to the State by. the system of giving up land for a thousand years at 4 per cent.- He thought that there was nothing more important than the tenure of the land. Limitation of area was much less important than limitation of time. He admitted tho general desire of men for the freehold, but contended that that was due to the greed of man, and to the power which ownership of laud conferred. If the land tenuro was right, and people could get upon the land, there would be no unemployment. The Government should not soli a single acre of land, nor lease a single acre for more than 50 years. He thought that there was enough waterpower for both the State and private companies to develop, 'but it should only be, let to private companies at a charge that would lie fair to tho State. Mr. M'Gowan expressed general approval of Dr. Findlay's prison reform schemes, but opposed the idea of a fruit farm.j worked by prison labour, on' the ground that this would interfere with private enterprise. ' The Hon. T. KENNEDY MACDONALD (Wellington) replied in a few words, and the debate was concluded. Tho Council adjourned'at 4.45 p.m.

' ' THE HOUSE.

Leave to introduce Bills was granted as under:— New Zealand State-guaranteed Advances Act, ISKIO, Amendment Bill '(Mr. Fisher). Otaki County Bill (Mr. Luke). Tho House was then engaged until close on midnight in a discussion with reference to the Knyvett case, which is reported in another column.

CHAIRMEN OF THE COMMITTEES.

Sittings of the Various committees, with one or two exceptions, were held yesterday, when chairmen wore appointed as follow:—Public Petitions A to L, Mr. Davey; Petitions Classification, Mr.Poole; Public Petitions M to 2, Mr. Craiglc, Goldiields and Minos, Mr. Poland; Statutes .Revision, Mr. Hanaii; Labour Bills, Mr.'Arnold; Native Affairs, Mr. Jennings; Lands, Hon. 'I'. Duncan; Public Accounts, Mr.' Russell; J.ocal .Bills, Mr. Laurenson; Reporting, Debutes, and Printing, Sir William Steward; Agricultural P.S. and Commerce, Mr. La wry; Railways,' Mr. Hogan; and Standing Orders, the Hon. A. R. Guinness. ' A STARTLING STORf, A rather startling story was told to tho House last night by Mr. C. 11. Poole, member for Auckland West, during the debate on the , Knyvett case. He said a boy of eighteen .or. nineteen had told him that because he did not attend a special volunteer parade, lie was fined, although his reason for absence was that he had to go to . sea to earn, a few shillings'. He did not- pay the fine for time, and suffered an additional penalty. One-evening the lad. was arrested in the street for. not having paid the fine, and next day he was breaking stones, on the roadside, iii full view of passers-by. Mr. Poole added that he had asked the lad to put his statements in writing and foiward them, but so far tliey had not come to hand,. and he gave the lad's verbal statement for what it was worth. NOXIOUS WEEDS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. . Under Mr. Field's Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill, every local authority other than the Minister shall, out of its general revenues, from 'time to .time clear as required by Section 9 of the principal Act ail lands and roads under its control; and if it fails or neglects so to do, the -Minister may cause the same to be done at its expense. Provided that when any noxious weed may reasonably be presumed to have spread from any fence or property having a frontage to any such road the local authority may call upon tho occupier to clear the road opposite to such fence or property, and' failing his so doing, may execute the work and recover the cost thereof from him. TOWN BOARDS AMENDMENT BILL. The Town Boards Amendment Bill proposes to extend the rating powers of town boards as provided by Sections 83 to 90 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, which relate to water rates, unoccupied dwellings to pay half rates, lighting rates, sanitary rates, and library rates "NOT A DIPLOMAT." A complaint was made by the Prime Minister in the House last night that lie had been unfairly represented in the North in connection with tho Knyvett oa.-.e. As an instance, Sir Joseph said Mr. Glover had been reported as stating at a public meeting:—"The Prime Minister expressed to mo in Wellington tho opinion that the case would fizzle out. I said, 'Sir Joseph, you may be a great statesman, but you are not a diplomat.'" (Laughter.) The Trimo Minister said he had sent a telegram to Mr. Glover asking if he had been correctly reported, ami was proceeding to road the telegram when Mr. Glover rose, amid great laughter, to a point of order. "I did receive tho telegram," said Mr. Glover. "I have, been misrepresented." He continued that the incident occurred in private conversation, and that he told the Prime Minister that he might lie a great statesman but ho was not a diplomat, and ho (Mr. Glover) did not think tho matter would fizzle .out. 1