PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3516, 30 May 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Friday, May 29. In moving “ That, referring to His Honor’s opening address relative to the sale of auriferous land, this Council is of opinion that the auriferous as well as the non-auriferous lands in this Province should be alienated from the Crown in such a manner and on such terms and conditions as will enable persons of all classes (if so disposed) to acquire the freehold of portions thereof,” the tfon Mr M'Lean quoted the following statistics : —The total annual value of the agricultural industry was LI 707,487 ; and of the pastoral industry, L 1,703,147 ; while for the year ending, March last, the value of the gold obtained was L 607,645, or only 35 per cent of either of tho other two industries, or only 20 per cent, if the other two industries were taken together. The area set aside for gold seeking was 6,117 368 acres, while the area, under crops, &c., was only 372,398 acres. The best way to prevent the utter destruction to the land by these who worked it for gold was to give them the, freehold, and so give them an interest in preserving it. The goldfields industry was in a languishing state, and that condition could only be altered by giving capitalists the knowledge that they were investing their capital on their own property. Mr Wood moved the addition of the following words : - “ Aud this Council requests his Honor during the next session of the Assembly to so ameud the Waste Lands Act as to give effect to this resolution.” The motion was opposed by tbe Provincial Secretary, who said if there was to be more speculation and competition less encouragement would be given under the proposed system than under the old system. '1 he lease was security to those who wanted to speculate, and it left the capital available for the development of works, instead of locking it up iu the purchase of tbe land. If the leases were too short, incre'se them. Messrs De L autoub, Browne, Clarke, and Lumsden also opposed the motion. The addition proposed by Mr Wood was then put and negatived. Mr J. C. Brown moved, as an amendment—“ 1. That, iu the opinion of this Council, the only way to provide for tbe proper and profitable occupation of mineral, agricultural, and pastoral lands, is by leasing instead of selling them. 2. That, in order to provide for the deficiency in revenue that may be caused by the adoption of the foregoing method of dealing with lands, an income and land tax should be imposed, 3. ibat a respectful address be presented to his Honor the • uperintendent, requesting him to urge the Colonial Government to introduce the necessary Bills iu the Colonial Parliament to carry out the foregoing resolutions.” The Provincial Solicitor, in a lengthy speech, argued that without what was|propnßed .here was no possible method of conserving the land. The parting with the freehold on the goldfields was not the mere parting with auriferous lands, but new discoveries aud prospecting would thereby be prevented : in a word, the goldfields interest would be destroyed by such a course. The question was in reality a pressing practical one. There was more reason for reserving the mineral lands than the agricultural and pastoral lands. If the system of leasing lauds had been adopted in the Province, tbe bitter struggles between the various interests would not have taken place, and other difficulties would not have arisen ; instead of a yearly decreasing, we should have had a yearly increasing revenue, and instead of requiring taxation we should have been able to do without it; for when the leases fell in, t heir value would be increased. If the leasing system were adopted here, there might l.e a small compensation for improvements allowed. To prevent the danger that threatened, a land and income tax should be insisted on. The Council then divided on the amendment, with the following result;— Ayes, 14: Messrs Bastings, J. C. Brown (teller), G. F. C. Browne, Daniel, Fish, Hazlett, Ireland, Kinross, Lumsden, M'Kellar, Reeves (teller), Stout, Sumpter, Wilson. Noes, 17: Messrs Allan, H. Clark, Davie (teller), De Lautour, Haggitt, Henderson, M-Dermid, M'Glashan, MTCenzie, M'Leau (teller), M'Neil, Reid, Roberts, Rogers, Shand, Webster, Wood. Pair: Aye-Mr R. Clarke; no—MrW. H. Reynolds. On the original motion there voted— Ayes, 4; Messrs Fish, M’Leau (teller), Rogers, Webster (teller). Noes, 23 ; Messrs Allan, Bastings, J. C. Brown (teller), G. F. C. Browne, Daniel, Davie, De Lautour, Hazlett, Ireland, Kinross, Lumsden (teller), M'Derraid, M'Glashan, M'Kellar, MTCenzie, M'Neil, Reeves, Roberts, Shand, Stout, Sumpter, Wilson, Wood. After the division had been taken, Mr Fish explained that he voted with the aves to force a division, but his sympathies were entirely with the noes. On Mr Reeves’s motion “That a respectful address be presented to his Honor tbe Superintendent, asking that he will be pleased to issue to Volunteers, who have become entitled thereto, certificates of remission of purchase money for land, in accordance with the Volunteer Land Act, 1865, and Volunteer Land Act Amendment Act, 1873,” the Provincial Secretary explained that intimation was given, in resolution of this Council in 1871; that Unless an amendment was made to compel Volunteers to take possession of the land, no further certificates would be granted. It was found that the Volunteers were disposing of their scrip at a lower rate than that charged for the Crown grants in this Province. He hoped the motion would not be passed. After further discussion the Provincial Solicitor moved the adjournment of the debate till Thursday, which was carried.