PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1222, 2 September 1911, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

THE HOUSE.

SALE OF SEEDS CONTROL BILL,

THE HAURAKI PLAINS.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. The National Sick and Accident Insure ance Bill (Sir A. R. Guiiiness) was read a first time. Tho Seeds Salo Control Bill (noil. T. .Mnclccnzic) and tho Salo of Poisons Bill (Hon. G. Fowlds) wero read a second time and referred lo the Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee. In regard to the latter Bill, Mr. Fowlds stated that some objections had been re* ceived from persons interested in the salo of sheep dip, and ho intended to move an amendment in order to meet those objections. The Hon. T. Mackenzie stated, in rcpty to a question, that the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill had been printed, and would shortly be in circulation, no stated that tho committee would take evidence on the Seeds Salo Control Bill at 11 a.m. next Wednesday. HAURAKI PLAINS BILL. • The Hon. D. BUDDO, Minister for In« "■''"al Affairs, moved the second reading of tin ilanralu Plains Amendment Bill. A previous debato oil the same motion had been ruled out of order on the ground that the Bill was a money Bill, and should liavo been referred to tho Lands Committee. This had been done in tho interval. Mr. MASSEY said tliat when tho Bill was before tlio House a few days ago a suggestion was made that settlers should bo asked to give evidence upon the Bill. Ho would ask tho Minister for Lauds whether he had done his duly in this connection ? The Hon. D. Buddo said this Bill did not throw any immediate obligation upon the. settlers. Mr. MASSEY said he had no doubt It would cause tho settlers intense disappointment that a Bill so. vitally affecting their interests should be passed without their having any say in the matter. Some of the settlers had grievances. He hail received communications from a number who had had difficulty'in getting advances from the Advances to Settlers Department. A. thing to which he took exception was that any money received from the sale of lands in the Hauraki Plains would bo paid into the Consolidated Fund and treated as revenue. Clause -i gavo tho Minister for Lands power to strike a special rate for tho maintenance of drainage operations, ■ without tho 6ettlers beinj consulted at all. The Hon. D. Buddo: It is only a temporary arrangement. Mr. Masscy said he believed the settlement would be a success if sufficient encouragement wa.s given to the settlers, but tlio Government was extracting the last shilling from these men. -Mr. H. POLAND (Ohinemuri) said he was satisfied that in a few years, the settlors, or a great majority of them, would be comfortable upon their farms. There was no necessity for the Minister for Lands to strike a rato at tho present time. Mr. E. H. Taylor (Thames) said it was premature to rato tho settlers at tha present time. Tho other GO,OOO acres that wero to be opened should first be draiuod. To rato the 113 existing settlers would 1)0 unfair, as many existing drains would benefit settlers over tho whole drainage area. Mr. H. J. H. GREENSLADE (Waikatu) spoko of tho wonderful transformation that had been elfected in tho plains by tlio drainage operations. Mr.. W. T. JENNINGS (Tanmaranui) ventured to prophesy that the Hauraki plains would turn out to bo tho scene of one of the most successful enterprises that the Government had undertaken. Tho Hon. D. BUDDO said ho had been on the swamp, and lie.had not seen anything better than lie had seen at Hauraki Plains, more especially tlio area tho settlers had now taken up. As to tho rating provision, it was a condition when tho lands wero settled that no rates for. drainage would bo expected for two years. This would be strictly adhered to. In addition, ho thought ho could safely promise that another year of graco would be granted. lie deprecated the remaTk of tlio Leader of the Opposition that tho Government was extracting tho last shilling from tho settlers. To put a statement of that kind in Hansard was simply unsettling the minds of people and mako them discontented, ne had visited the settlement and had not heard a single complaint. The second reading was carried on tha voices. KAIKOURA HOSPITAL SITE. The Hon. G. I'OWLDS .moved tho second reading of the ICaikoura Hospital Site Bill. ITo explained that it vested a hospital site, in trust, in tho North Canterbury Hospital Beard. Tho second reading was carried on th« voices. Tho House adjourned' at 11.40 p.m. ■