BILLS OF EXCHANGE AMENDMENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 286, 27 August 1920, Page 8

BILLS OF EXCHANGE AMENDMENT

BILL PASSED BY COUNCIL. The Hon. J. MacGregor yesterday moved in the Legislative Council tho third reading of his Bills of Exchange- Amendment Bill, which provides that a bank shall not be liable by reason of its having paid a fraudulently altered cheque when the cheaue Ims been so drawn as to afford facility for fraudulent' alteration. The Eon. C. Louisson again spoke against the measure, and Sir Francis Bell again supported it. Tho third reading was carried on the voices, and the Bill ■was passed. THE PUMICE LANDS DEVELOPMENT IN SIGHT. Extraordinarily' keen interest was shown by members from all over the Northl Island, during 'the discussion on tho introduction of the Agricultural Heport in the House on Tuesday, in pumice country in tho centre of tho North Island, For the most part this country is lying unproductive, and for many years farmers have, said that tho land is worthless and will never be anything but desert, There are few who will put forward this opinion to-day. Successful work has been done on this so-called pumico land, and apparently farmer members of tho House are aware of it. Expert farmers like Mr. Edward Newman admitted that they had changed their opinions about this land. They had once thought it valueless, but tbfcy _ wero now satisfied that the arable portions of the land could bo made, extremely productive. As to the hill portions .of the territory, tho problem had not yet been solved, but it was the opinion of Mr. Hockly, who represents the pumice, country in tho House, that the hilly portions of this area aught to be used for afforestation. There were, he said, no other parts of the country in which trees would grow to such luxuriance, and so quickly como to profit, as in this area. It was the opinion of all the members who spoko of this land that it must be tho concern of the Government as soon as possible to settle this land, and Mr. Hockly said that on the terms on which the Government was offering the' land the man who could afford to take it up and to wait for the ground to solidify after ploughing and manuring could make a fortune upon it. ... i, Mixed with this discussion on tho pumice country was another discussion on the advisability of the Government extending the system for Riving farmers scientific aid through experimental farms. It was generally admitted that thto Goyernment ought 'to direct more of the attention of its experts to the problems met with in the breaking-in of the, pumice country. Unfortunately the Minister had no time to make his usual reply at the end of tho debate, and ho did not say anything about his intentions. He will no doubt take nnothier opportunity Special legislation was passed last session to enable se Hers to go on to theso lands in the mifldle of the island, but it turned out that the bulk of the land is national endowment, t and it cannot be thrown open for soUlemeni on tW terms provided for unless special ledslaS ia passed to remove these XftSn tkn national endowment schTdu It has already been announced that this will be done during the present session. .