THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2576, 25 September 1915, Page 6

THE HOUSE

' The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. ,' . - The Footwear Regulation. Amendment Bill (the Right Hon. W, F. Massey) was introduced and read a first time. The Hon. W. H. HERRIES gave notice of the ■ Native Land Amendment; and Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill and the West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment.Bill. . The Mining Amendment Bill and the Kauri- Glim Industry! Amendment Bill were introduced bjr Governor's Message and read a.first:time. The Hon. G. W.;RUSSELL gave notice of the Auctioneers . Amendment Bill . ' ■ The, Hon. Dr. M'NAB gave notice of the Prisoners' ' Detention- Bill and tlw Prisons Amendment Bill. , . The Hon, W. D. S. MAODONALB gave 1 notice of the Dairy Industry Amendment. Bill and .tho Coal Mined Amendment Bill.

' TRAINING OF SOLDIERS. The Military Manoeuvres Bill (the Hon/:J.. Allen) was committed.. Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) asked if the Bill gave poweil to take local bodies' reserves. -l Mr. J. 15. Hine (Stratford) said he thought the Bill should* contain provi-" ision for recouping the owners of land for loss or daniago caused by straying stock. The Hon. J. Allen said that tho Government did not propose to take land but only to use it, and the Bill gave the Government power to use any laud. By .proclamation in the Gazette' 48 hours' notice'would _ bo given of the Govern* meat's intention to take a road. A noiv sub-clauso inserted, to

provide that 24' hours' notice in writing should be given, to owners or occupiers of land before it was taken. The Bill was reported .with amendments, read a third'time, and passed. SOLDIERS' COLONIES LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME . DETAILS OUTLINED ' The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY moved the second reading of tho Discharged. Soldiers' Settlement Bill. It .was certain, ho said, that when the iwar was over employment would have to bo found for a, very largo number of soldiers, and it would be necessary ,to provide land for those who wished to go on "tho land. provided for two classes of returned 1 soldiers— mens who were sound and well,'t and ■men-who had been wounded and who were receiving pensions. For pensioners small holdings for fruit or poultry farms would be provided,' and for this jpurpose the Government liad several •"blocks_ already in view. Some of these 'were in the Hutt and there .were in all about 300 acres of land in the immediate neighbourhood of, Wellington; : There were several blocks in. the North of Auckland which, he was given to understand, were particularly, suitable. This land was amongst , that now being dug over by gum-diggers. Next ■year it would be planted out in fruit trees. The Government also had in view a.'fairly large block of land the ■Earnscleugh Flat, in Central. Otago, which was . particularly suitable for fruit-growing... The. Government were endeavouring to provide water, for this land at-the present moment. It would be necessary to provide soldiers with capital, as well as with land. The land would be either Crown lands, or lands purchased .in the ordinary way under, the Lands for Settlements Act. But the Bill also provided that. £50,000 should be borrowed for the purpose of assisting these men with the purchase of stock, implements, and other farming requisites. The tenure of tho laud toould be either ordinary leasehold, or optional. In order to, prevent speculation in these sections it was provided that no section should be sold by a soldier until ton years after it, was allotted to him,'unless in special cases with the _consent of the Landi Board. ■ Those soldiers who were in receipt of pensions would not have their pensions reduced because of money they earned on tfheir holdings. . : . A Popular Measure.

Sir. G. WITTY, (Riccarton) coneratulafed the Prime Minister on the introduction of the Bill, which, he hoped, would do a great deal of good. He suggested that it might not be a, good tiling to allow maimed men to" have the small sections only: It was possible that a. man who had lost an arm had" knowledge of stock, and such a man would' be able to do more with a larger holding. Mr, E. NEWMAN (Rangitikei) also .expressed strong approval of the Bill. Many of the men going 1 away werethe sens of farmers, the very pick of our country population, and it was.of the utmost importance to the country that these men should be kept in the country. He would like to see the Bill made applicable to nurses who might desire to: have a .small' poultry .or fruit farm. He thought it of the utmost, importance that we .should have first-class land not too far from the railways for these men Tet'urning. Many of them . would not be. physically fit for bush farming.

. Mr. W. T. JENNINGS ' (Taumaruiiui) approved stronjgly of the. proposal in . the . Bill ..to prevent, speculation in lands granted' to. soldiers., !• . Mr. R. P. HUDSON (Motueka) pointed: out that .fruit-farming was a highly skilled branch, of farming, and iliat. soldiers.'settled; oil fruit . lands bo given expert assistance by. ilio Government. . Mr.. P. C. WEBB (Grey) asked Hia't steps be taken to .instruct returned soldiers in new occupations which they would have to follow. - . Mr. C. ,J. PARR (Eden) said that tliere would not be work in the ordinary channels of employment for more than three-fifths of the returned soldiers,

hence the need for Government action. ■He hoped and believed the scheme would be successful.

Tha New Department. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN said that steps had already been taken by tho new Department recently created to provide for the training of returned soldiers for new' occupations," including agricultural pursuits. Tho settlement of sol- , diers on land was only ono of the branches in which the Government proposed to aid discharged soldiers. He detailed the work of the new Department, and expressed ■ sanguine hopes for its success. Ho was strongly of opinion that tho best result could not bo achieved unless all relief funds were .centraliscd under one control, working in conjunction with tho new Depart-

ment. He wished it to be clearly under-1 stood, however, that if local organisa- { tions wished to . administer {heir own funds v they might do so. Another Bill to be introduced would provide for preference for soldiers at land'ballots. All the publio officers he had met had shown the utmost willingness to make the schemes for the assistance of discharged soldiers a. success. A register had been made of the men who had returned. Of these 82 did not want assistance, 31 proposed to re-enlist or had re-enlisted, 35 had applied for -help, 60 were unfit work, 36 were the-subject of inquiries, and 25 were receiving attention. Ten men had been helped, and eleven situations.had been offered. Other offers of help to tho number of ten had been received. The Government had circularised 408 local bodies and 69 patriotic organisations. Ho was advised that the total sums collected by patriotic societies was £405,207, but he-was not sure that this was complete. r iH. FIELD (Nelson) con-, gratulated the Prime.Minister oh bring-: ing down such an . excellent measure. He suggested that it might be possible for returned soldiers win desired to go in for the apple export industry to'be employed on their own holdings, under Government supervision. The land could be 'loaded" with the wages paid tho men till the holdings became profitable. ,2- J- H. OKEY (Taranaki) wouglit that" tho measure was one that every member should support. Provision should be made for settling the men on small dairy farms. i Mr. J AN'STEY (Waifaki) said that wo should endeavour to place returned soldiers, oil tho same footing that - they would have occupied had they stayed at home. The Bill, however, did not contain any provision for. ordinary farm settlement, and something , should bo done ill that direction. He also con- ' tended that provision should be made to give special opportunities for the men I? g £-„ largel '. holdings than, set' out in the Bui. Ordinary settlement conditions as provided under the Land for Settle™®uts, Act should be insisted on in the Bill, for it was those settlement conditions that had made their settled lands a success. Mr. Massey: The Bill deals with farm settlements. ' •. <, ■. M r ,. R- M'CALLTJM (Wairau) suggested, that' the sons of soldiers who were killed should be placed on the same footing as returned soldiers. Mr. J. M'OOMBS (Lyttelton) said that it seemed to him that the Bill was generous to only a section of our soldiers. He thought that soldiers who wanted to have a little business in town should get similar help'. The Bill savoured of class, legislation. ■ ■

No Limit to Holdings. The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY, in reply, thanked honourable members for tlie reception given to the Bill. The .member for Waitaki-had suggested that the Bill made no provision for fairly large: . farms. , . In. actual. fact the. Bill did .not limit jthe: size of .farms" in, any way. . Land would be provided, by purchase or otherwise, in any district where suitable ,land_ was available. 'Hescheme not limited to any particular locality. - It- would be tlie business of the Lands Department to see that 110 speculation could take place in these lands.

The Bill was read a second time, put through all stages, and passed. . LAW PRACTITIONERS. Amendments made in Committee in the Law Practitioners Amendment Bill

were_ agreed to, and the Bill was Tead a third time and passed. CENSUS AND STATISTICS. The Right Hon. W. I<\ MASSEY moved the- .second reading of the Census and Statistics Amendment Bill, which, he said, was really complementary to the National Registration Bill. Tho Bill contained two . clauses. One gave tho Government power to collect at any time certain statistical information which it could now collect annually. Tho other clause proposed some reorganisation of the Registrar-General's Department, with tho object of "leaving the Registrar-General to devote all his attention to statistics. Mr. Mas3ey said he proposed to.have the census returns taken by house-to-house canvass by tho police. The second reading was agreed to, and the Bill was put through its remaining stages and passed. DESTITUTE PERSONS. Mr. A. HARRIS (Wa-itemata) moved tile second reading, of' the Destitute Persons _Amendment 'Bill.': The Bill was read a second time with-' out debate. .*■', STATE ADVANCES. The State Advances Amendment Bill (Mr. T. M. Wilford) was read a third time, and passed. LIGHTS ON VEHICLES. The Lights.on Vehicles Bill (tho Hon. D. Buddo) was put through Committee, read a; third time, and passed. FACTORIES ACT. The Factories Act Amendment Bill (Mr. T. -M. Wilford) was put through its remaining stages and passed, with the .inclusion of a new. clause to bring the Bill' into operation isix months after the termination, of the war. The House rose at 21.50 p.m. till 7.30 p.m. on Monday.