THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 984, 26 November 1910, Page 9

THE HOUSE.

PUBLIC WORKS BILL. Bomo discussion took place iu th< Houso early .yesterday morning on SubClauso (c) of Clause 5 of the Public Works Bill, which provides that compensation shall bo based oil the value of tho land immediately prior to the' valuo of tho water-race. Mr. MASSEY said ,thero was a clashing between tli/> clause that had been added and Sub-Clause (e), The first empowered, tho Minister to take tho land prior to the completion of the irrigation works under the ■ Public Works Act. If that was done compensation would have to bo paid, as prescribed in tho principal Act. SubClauso (c) prescribed, a' different basis of paying compensation. Mr. Massey contended that compensation should bo based upon the valuo of the land at the timo of taking, less tho increased value- that was attributable .to tho works. . . ■'■ Mr. FBASEB (Wakatipu) said SubClause (c) was unfair. If anything apart from the ' Government works raised the value of the land, the Minis-ter-would collar tho increased value. It' appeared, by tho way the Minister was fighting for this sub-clause,. that ho knew what it meant. The Crown should get any extra valuo caused by •tho- race, buji not valiio caused by a work it had nothing to do with. ' The MINISTER 'said he was advised by itho Crown Law draughtsman, that tho sub-clause was necessary. Mr. SCOTT (Tuapcka) asked what I'would happen to a man who refused to .take water from the Government, and put down a bore and got artesian The MINISTER said the Act would not apply to land whero artesian water could bo found, because the man with artesian water could irrigate for himself. ■ . Mr.. MASSEY asked the Minister to amend' Sub-Clause (c) to' read as follows:—''Compensation for the land so taken shall bo based upon tho valiio of the. land at the time of such taking, less the increased value (if any) given to the, land by tho construction of such works." ' ' The MINISTER said that iii' order to please tho ho'n. gentleman and -get on with tho Bill he was willing to drop this': sub-clause altogether, and.'' allow compensation to be fixed by the existing law. . ..Mr. MASSEY said'he would agree to this, and;the sub-clause was", struck out. ' After other amondments had boon made (as reported yesterday), progress was reported. When the Committee resumed consideration of 'the Bill, Mr. Arnold inoved a now clause to the effect that the council of a local authority may by special order raise a special. loan for tho purposo of paying compensation in respect to land dedicated under the Public Works Act. The clause,'was " Sir. PHILLIPPS (Waitemata) movccl an. addition to tho-powers-of tho Governor or local authority to take-uiidei the provisions of tho principal Act any area of land for tho purposes bi agricultural show grounds or a site foi an agricultural hall. ■ Tho MINISTER said ae would support tho amendment down to tlin word -."'grounds," as it cqu]d not. possibly iijj., jure anyone.. ' .(•■•■':••■•.-■ ''■■-'■. _-'',''. | ; Tho amendment t was accordingly put j in this form. ■ ' v ' ', On" a , division, tho amendment was ) carried by 47 to 19. ' ' i Dr.. TE RANGIHIROA (Northern \ Maori) moved-that tho Governor or a \ local authority should not have power, to' take any private, Native, or other < land under tho provisions of tho principal Act, except with tho consent of tho Native Minister. This was agreed to".on the voices. .

Tho Bill was reported with amendments, ahd was set down for , its third reading on. "next, sitting <Jay." . , BILLS PASSED. The- following Bills were reported' with amendments, read a third timo, and passed:—Rating Amendment, Public Holidays, and Municipal Corporations. MESSACE FROM THE COUNCIL. A Message was received from tho Legislative Council covering'the Workers' Dwelling Bill, Legislature Amendment Bill, Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, and the Rating' Amendment Bill, without amendment, and the Hospitals and Charitable . Institutions Amendment Bill, with amendments. The amendments were agreed to. IMPREST SUPPLY. COOK ISLAND ADMINISTRATION. An Imprest Supply Bill for £267,000 was introduced by Governor's Message. ' Referring to tho. administration of affairs in tho Cook Islands, Mr. WRIGHT said it appeared from correspondence ho had. received that there,' was a state of unrest amongst tho residents of- the islands. ■ Ho .thought some sort of Government inquiry should bo set up to go into the matter. Tho doctor complained against at tho islands was doubtless a capablo man, but he could not gain the confidence of the If an inquiry were held ho (Mr. 'Wright) could bring forward witnesses. Land titles, said Mr. AVright, were, defective, and there appeared to be an inordinate importation of intoxicants into the islands. Mr. GLOVER (Auckland; Central) said ho probably Knew more than any other member about tho Cook Islands, his wife being a relative of the Queen of Rarotonga. He had: sent full reports of tho charges to the leading Europeans and the. native chiefs in the islands, and in each instance he had received a reply that " the statements were absolutely incorrect. What underlay tho wholo business was an attempt to stab the C4ovcrnmerit. ' ■ ' '• Dr. TE RANGIHIROA said that in any matters , of business and developing the resources of the islands,-' Captain Smith was a good . man.,. He was a member of a Celtic race, and the Celtic temperament-was apt to bo misunderstood. A visit from tho Minister in charge of the islands would, ho was' sure, soon sot matters right.. As to •liquor on. tho island, he could only express his admiration of tho system. Tho natives wore- not supposed to 'have liquor unless they produced a medical, certificate, and the Collector of Customs administered- tho law with great firmness. Ho hoped tho Government would get in. touch with the islands, and that tho Minister himself would pay them'a visit. The Hon. J. CARItOI/L, Minister in chargo of Cook Islands, said ho intended to keep a perfectly open mind. There was no' doubt that there was friction, but the circumstances were peculiar. He Tead a long letter from the Resident Commissioner, replying to 4"ii interview which recently appeared in Tiie Dominion. Tho letter stated that everything was quite orderly, and the finances were in a sounder condition than they, had-over been before. Tim Commissioner claimed to havo successfully dealt, with ■' all land matters brought before him. The leading chiefs had called upon him since they had seen tho article in The Dominion, and had expressed their confidence in him..

They had desired to reply to the allegations made by Mr. Husking, but ho discouraged thorn from doing so. : Mr. Carroll also read correspondence relating to stho control of liquor and other matters. Ho promised if possible to visit the islands and investigate complaints, and in \any case ho would have a proper inquiry made. Up till then it would be well to withhold comment. Ho was obliged to tho member for Wellington South for the several matters brought under his notice. Tho Bill was-put through all stages, and passed. Tho House adjourned at 1.50 a.m. until 10 o'clock this morning to take 1 local Bills.