THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 16 July 1910, Page 10

THE HOUSE.

MACKENZIE COUNTRY RUNS. SHOULD THEY BE SUBDIVIDED? When'tho House mot yesterday afternoon, TUo PIUME MINISTER moved that tho report of tho Canterbury Grazing linns Classification Commissioners bo laid on tho table. There was a minority report by. Mr. Gutkrib, one of tho commissioners. It appeared that the runs reported on contained an area of 1,457,000 acres, comprised in 32 pastoral runs, and carrying 300,000 sheep. Tho runs ought not to bo subdivided into areas with a carrying capacity of less than 5000 sheep. Twelve of tlio runs wero capable of such.subdivision. The Mackonzie Country would not lend itself to subdivision suitablo for mon of small' capital, tho greater part of it reaching an altitudo of over 4000 feet. In his report Mr. Guthrio favoured more extensive subdivision than his colleague!). , ' Need tor Caution. Sir Wm, STEWARD (Waitaki)' said it was impossible for him to toll without having digested tho reports whether tlio commission had gono far enough in its recommendations. 'Ho understood that at the closo of tho session tho Prime .Minister intended to inspect tho kind'-: i (luestion. Notico of intended rosu::...:|on should bo given to tho k>:;sMii by next February at the latest. Mr. FORBES (Hurunui) said that for some considerable time there had boon no grazing land availablo in Canterbury. When tlio Government oiimo to consider tho question of tho subdivision of these lands it would have to act with tho utmost caution in view of its position. Tho only way of repa'sturing these lands was to allow tho native grasses to seed, lio regretted that tho farmers 1 conference had passed a resolution in. favour of tlio auctioning of Crown lands. When balloting the question of experience should bo tlio iirst to bo taken into consideration. Lessees should bo given the right of renewal at a valuation rental. Mr. GKEENSLADE'OVaikato) said that the quantity of land available for settlement was gradually becoming less and less. There was not a solitary acre of Crown land loft in Canterbury. A drawback in regard to settlement in

tho north was that there were leaseholders in tho House, who declared that tho back-blocks settlers wero getting too big a freehold. ' Mr. FISHER ' (Wellington Central) said that he would like to ask Mr. Grconslado ono question: How wa-s it that lie always talked freehold, but voted leasehold? (Laughter.) Mr. Grconslado: "When? _ Mr. Fisher: You voted for the sotting aside- of tho national endowment lands. ■ Mr. Greonslade-: What about tno subsequent division'? Mr. Fisher; You didn't vote on that division at all. Mr. Grconslado-: Then I was out or Wellington. I By way of personal explanation, Mr. Grconslado stated that ho had always favoured reasonable endowments, but otherwise he was a freeholdor. State Crant 'Necessary. Mr. RUSSELL (Avon) said it might be desirable that the Government should put a certain amount of capital into tho runs for the purpose of fencing, which would onsuro eifeotive spelling as well as subdivision. Further experiments were needed 'with reference to tho question of tho pasturage of those lands. As Mr. Forbes had stated, .caro should be taken to see •that tho.runs were not subdivided too far. Mr. T. E. TAYLOR (Christchurch North) said that those freeholders' who voted in favour of a national endowment voted logically. For himself- ho wa-s against the alienation of'any moro Clown- lands. Ho thought the Government would be making a great mjs-ta-ko if it overlooked tho recommendations of Mr. Guthrie, who had submitted a minority report. Mr. Guthrie declared that tho remedy for loss of stock in high country was close settle-' ment. Ho felt sure that Mr. Guthrie's estimate of - the subdivision which should take place (which was higher than .those of the other commissioners) erred on the side of, moderation.- ■ In liis opinion tho estimates of the carrying capacity of those lands were generally too small and tho estimates of losses' usually extravagant. _ Mr. MASSEY (Leader of the Opposition), said ho thought the "time would come when tho country would realisethat the last Parliament made a mistake in setting' aside tIW national endowments, ' which ho described as "bogus" endowments. The settlers on those lands should be given the option of the freehold. It was his opinion that if Mr. T. E. Taylor knew more about the land question ho would not bo quite as eloquent. He did not believe' in land speculation; he stood for genuine land settlement. An Invitation to tha Premier. It was his opinion that if tho runs in tho Mackenzie Country could ho subdivided that should bo dono, but caution would require to bo oxcrcised in that regard. Mr. Massoy went on to say that during the past few days ho •had had several telegrams from settlors in the Mackenzio Country requesting him to ask tho Prime Minister to go down and inspect tho lands. From one of -the wires ho learned that there were at present 22in. of snow at Burke's Pass, whoro it was still showing. Mr. T. E. Taylor: I don't believe it. Mr. Massey: Well, if the Prime Minister is anxious, to. take advantage of the invitation, and ''chooses-to 'go, I will take care that nothing serious to his party happens until he returns. (Laughter.) Mr. ANDERSON (Mataura) thought that if the holders of the lands 'in question got. the option of the freehold, n would obviate speculation in regard to them. A Remlnlscenco. Mr.-".-BUCHANAN (Wnirarapa) said that thero was some doubt as -'to. the qualifications of tho inombers of tho commission which had been appointed to report on the lands. .-Some .of tho land could be subdivided, but such a thing was -impossible as regards other portions of tho adjoining country. He had had experiences ot tho ■ xuddeu heavy falls of.'snow which took placo in the district. Mr. NOSWORTHY (Ashburton) said he had noticed that tho nowspapors had taken exception to the appointment of Mr. Diiinio as a president of one of the Maori Land Boards, -but they might well have objected to the' personnel of tho commission, which was appointed to report upon tho lands in question.. Referring to the ocirimissioners individually ho would single out Mr. Guthrie only as a solid man. Ho believed that the Premier was a good business man, and would be glad to see him visit tho country personally. Upon the motion- of -Mr. ■ Macdohald (Bay of Plenty), the dobnte was then adjourned until next • sitting day. PHOSPHORUS MATCHES; BILL. ' In moving the second reading of this Bill, Tho ■ Hon, D. BUDDO said, that the object of the Bill was to prohibit the manufacture, of matches with white or yollow phosphorus in New. Zealand. Matches of this varioty were manufactured both in Wellington and Dimedin. If tho Bill wero passed it would bo in tho: interests of the workers l at such manufactories. Mr.. ROSS (Pahiatua), in reviowing tho history of tho industry', said that tho first mat-eh was made in 1827. Sir William Steward: The first-match was made by Adam. (Laughter.) . Another member: And Eve. (Further laughter.) . Mr. TEAKOE (Patea) contended that it would bo-better if New Zealand had no, suoh manufactories—it would bo a good thing; The girl workors in those factories would bo bettor engaged in household duties. Mr. ELL (Christchurch South) combated this statement, declaring that New Zealand needed as many indus-tries-as possible. Mr. WRK4HT (Wellington South) agreed very heartily with tho principles of the Bill. It was a, right thing to encourage local industries. Mr. BUDDO, in replying, stated that the employees in the match-making industry _in Now Zealand totalled only 28 males and 69 females, so that the industry could not interfcro very much with domestic service. The second reading was agreed to, and I ,tho Bill was set down for committal on next sitting day. STONE.QUARRIES BILL. Tho Hon. R. M'KENZIE, in moving tho second reading of tho Stone Quarries Bill (which has been summarised in The Domixion), said that tho Bill was a now departure in New Zealand. Many of tho clauses were based upon the English law,, Tho provisions of the Bill would be put into oporation- gradually. The Bill only applies to quarries of a depth of twenty feet and more, and its main object is to promote tho I safety of quarry workers. Mr. MASSEY admitted that part of tho Bill, dealing with explosivo and blasting operations, was required. Other clauses would probably remain a dead letter if they wero passed. Tho provisions in regard to permits wore too drastic, and inspectors under tho Act would apparently count as members of the' Civil Service, though they might not have passed the third standard. He objected to that very much. Mr. OKEY (Taranaki) said that tho Bill had not been asked, for, and it would increase the cost of work to tho local bodies. Tho Government wore just as careless about .their explosives as any other body. Mr. PEARCE (Patea) also took exception to tho Bill. Mr. ELL (Christchurch South) urged

tlint tho Bill had been needed for many years for tho protection of quarry workers. Mr. REED (Bay of Islands) objected to tho Bill from the' point of view of local bodies. 'A'heso would not bo able to find the qualified quarrymen.required under the Act, and they would bo driven to use for road construction scoria and stono from' river-beds, which were not so hard 'as metal from deep quarries. Mr. DIVE (Egmont) thought that tho Bill would increase tho cost of metal to local bodies. ■ Mr. WRIGHT (Wellington South) asked why Government Departments should be exempted from tho provisions of tho Bill. The Government'was .-'always making-laws "to deal with the other fellow." Ho believed that what was sauce for the goose should bo sauce for the gander. Mr. LUKE (Wellington Suburbs) complimented tho Minister on the Bill, which, ho thought, was just as much needed as v hg Inspection of Machinery Act. Eoremon of local bodies might be allowed to qualify without the three< years' service. The MINISTER, in roplying, said that three years' continuous service was not required, but only throe, years' service in the aggregate. Not many quarries used by local, bodies ,wore over twenty feet deep,- and local bodies-were exempted so far as their road-making operations were concerned. . If "the exemption was not-clear he would havo it mado moro definite. (Hear, hear.) The second reading was agreed to at U. 30 p.m., and the House adjourned.