PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2620, 11 July 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Yesterday. The Land bill came on for consideration at the evening sitting. Clauses S and 7 were agn ed to as read. Clause 10 was amended so as to give the Board, appointed by the Superintendent to hear and determine objections, power to examine the parties and their witnesses on oath, and also providing for adjournments of 30 days. A proposition was then made that the House should go into committee. Considerable opposition was shown to 'the proposal to raise the price of land to 30s an acre, the goldfields members being particularly loud in their opposition to it. Mr Shepherd said his opinion was that the price should remain at 2t)s as heretofore, and ne suggested the introduction of a clause similar to the one in the Victorian Act, providing that pastoral lessees should not cultivate their laud except in respect of produce required for their own ruus. Mr Mrrvyn objected to the Rill, on the ground that it devisedjtwo distinct systems, one for the residents within goldfields, and one for persons residing without goldfields ; and deprecated the system of land on deferred payments sought to be established. The Provincial Secretary denied that the Government was raising the price of land and submitted figures to show that the amount _ paid by the occupier of laud, assuming that it was paid for within three years, would not exceed LI 2s 7d. If purchasers were unable to pay this sum, they would still have the prospect of paying the annual instalments, extending over a period of seven years. There was no objection to the introduction of the clause suggested by Mr Shepherd ; but it would te of little use. Regarding the plantation of trees, it had been thought desirable to leave in the hands of the Superintendent and Executive Council the power to make and vary regulations from time to time, as altered cir cumstances might require. A limit of 320 acres had b?en fixed ; but if it was considered too large, it could be altered. He did not believe the deferred payment system would limit the sale of land ; and those persons who could pay for the land at once would do so in preference to coming under the deferred system, which, if, as was alleged, was a bad one, should not cause members to be afraid of it. Mr Turnbull deprecated the tacking of the Hundreds Regulation Bill to the Land Act, which would place the latter in jeopardy. The proposal to raise the price of land was a step in the right direction, because, notwithstanding the explanations that bad been given, the impression would get abroad that the price of laud bad been actually raised. Messrs Blacklock, Lumsdcn, and Browne, also objected to the iiroposal to raise the price of laud. Mr Cutten, in answering these objections, pointed out that

land wou'd be as cheap at 30s per acre upon deferred payments, ns it would be at LI per acre paid at once. To treat the land fund as a means of revenue, as had been poposed by some members, was a departure irom the proper principle to regard it as a means of settlement. The two ideas could not be worked out together, and the Government, in proposing the resolutions, had nt only in view the attraction to the Province of immigrants, but also the making provision for these pens ms who might arrive under the Colonial Immigration Scheme. Mr Driver, while admitting that the Bill possessed many commendable features, objected to it on the ground that it tended to complicate present lifficulties. The great object to be gained was to simplify the land Jaw and make it more definite. He thought that before any attempt was made to pass resolutions like those under discussion, the whole of the existing land laws should be abolished, and in framing a new Bill, the Council should be guided by the principle adopted by the Government in framing their resolutions. He was strongly of opinion that it was necessary to hold out every inducement to effect settlement, and therefore was willing that the system of deferred payments should oe adopted. But the resolutions opened the door to serious complications, as difficulties might arise when they came to he administered by different Governments holding different views. Besides there was the continuation of that system which had been the cause of land legislation, the leaving of all tlie important work to be done by the Waste Land Board He believed the best system of sett ing the country was free selection—let a person with money in his pocket go where and when he liked to buy land, and nprn conditions as simple as it was possible to make them. After a few observations by Mr Gillies, the House went into committee, when clauses 10 to 30 both inclusive were carried after trilling amendment.

This Day. Judging by the long notices given to-day, the work of the Provincial Council is only beginning. M mber after member rose. First Mr Haughton, then the Provincial Secretary, who was followed by Mr M‘Arthur, Mr Hutcheson, Mr Seaton, and Mr Turnbull. As these motions referred to subjects Inch require grave consideration, should they ■ver come before the Council for discus don, considerable ex e sion of the session must be expected. After these notices of motion Mr Mervyn was called upon to resume the debate on Mr Barton’s motion condemning expenditure of money on Maori w <rs. The •nem’>er for Mount Ida not being present, M r Kanghton’s amendment was put, when Mr Bathgate rose and combatted the idea that there was any reason whatever why there -hould be any further expenditure on the Maoris. He maintained if the sett'ers in the North Island could not hold their own against the Maoris, they should leave and give place to better men. The Provincial .Secretary objected to the amendment on logical grounds. He argued that if the affirmation were made that money should not be wasted on the Maories, the fair inference was that it might be wasted in other ways ; and as he objected to the waste of money in public works, He preferred the resolution as first projosxl. The Hou Mr McLean reviewed Colonial legislation on Maoii matters, and maintained that it was much better to spend money in feeding them than in wasting it in powder and shot. The Maoris could not be conquered by force, they might be civilised by kindness. He asked in the name of common sense that the Con icil should not waste its time in discussing such idle resolutions. Mr Thomson did not think it right to sweeten the Maori temper by sugar and treacle, nor warming their bodies by blankets. Mr Lnmsden mantaiued that the resolutions, from their cold commercial character would tend to prevent the Middle Island helping the North. Nothing but powder and shoe, or six inches of cold steel would prevent Maori wars—in fact nothing but the extinction of the race The sugar and blanket system was as expensive as the powder a id shot system. The defence cost shi uld be Colonially and not Provincially charged. On the amendment being put a division took place, when it was negatived by a large majority, twenty-five voting against, and four in favor of the motion. The original motion was then put and carried on the voices. Mr Daniels then moved for certain returns which were agreed to. Dr Webster obtained leave to bring in a Eill for amending the fen ing Ordinance at an‘early date; wesupposeintwelveor eighteen mouths. Other motions were disposed of w.thout discussion, and Mr Hutche on moved that the Government consider favorably the petition of the members of the Ot -popo School Committee, which stated that the sjhool was small and unsafe. The Provincial Secretary said there was no probability of the motion being given effect to during the present session, and the motion passed. Mr Smith moved for 28'.)!) acres as an endowment for recreation and utility for West Hawksbury. The Provincial Secretary gave a promise that if the motion were withdrawn, he would promise the land should be reserved. ITie Hon. Mr M'Lean suggested that as every municipality would ask tor reserves, it would be better to establish a general principle. The Provincial Secretary would have no objection to adopt a general priuci Ic, so as to place every municipality on the same footing. The resolution was carried. [Left sitting ]