PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4176, 15 July 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[Bt Telbgbapb.] Wellington, July 15. In the House of Representatives at 2,30 p.m. yesterday Mr Wason introduced a Bill to regulate the leasing and disposal of the waste lands of the Crown in Canterbury after the expiration of the present leases in 1880. Sir J. Vogel, after referring to what the Government proposed doing re the Canterbury runs, said, having come to this decision in reference to Canterbury, a great deal of anxiety would be felt as-to the intention of the Government as to the holders of the runs in Otago. He had to say that the Government considered the cases widely different. In Canterbury the tenure deEends upon no one purchasing the run, as o was entitled to do at any time, in any quantity, or over any portion of the run, while m the case of Otago the tenure is different in character and much more secure.- A comparison between the two might be best arrived at by this simple fact : any person holding the lease of a ran in Canterbury might himself at any time be deprived of a portion or the whole of his run by any person with his knowledge, whilst in Otago the leases have this amount of seenrity abont them, as before any land can be taken from the runholders a very tortuous process in most cases has to hie gone through. Such process could not take Elace without the knowledge of the runolders, who have in all cases at least as good, if not a better, chance of purchasing than any other person. In Otago, also, the law was very specific in its provisions as to the way runs should be dealt with. The law was briefly to this effect: it was within fhe power of the Land Board or the Superintendent—he forgot which, but he thought the Board—before the leases expire, to say whether or not the leases should be renewed, whether or not they should be cut up into small runs, or whether or not they should be leased at all. In case of it being decided to continue to lease the runs, the law prescribed definitely that such leases should take ; place by auction. So that it might be said the law dealt with these cases apecificially, and there was not the same necessity for legislation in respect to Otago as there was in respect to the Canterbury runs. When the time came he would move in committee an amending clause, to give effect to what he had stated. In connection with the Land Bill they proposed to its general intention was to place in the hands of the Land Board of the Province in most cases—he thought he might say in the majority of cases—the power which now exists in Superintendents in some parts. In answer to Mr William Wood, Sir J. Vogel said the assessment would not be niade upon what tbe run was paying, but upon half its actual value.

mining property from rating wouldije left unaltered, and represented how unfair it would be to tax a species of property which was of such precarious value, one day being worth thousands, and the next probably worth little or nothing. Mr Rowe hoped the mining property would be rated. Whatever the circumstances attached to goldmining, and goldmining property, it would be most unjust not to rate goldmining property. Mr Button moved that the following amending clause be inserted in this interpretation, clause: “ The rateable value of any land shall mean five per cent, on the amount which such laud, without any improvements, would sell for in the market, at the time of |hat valuation being made.” The Premier thought it would be a very bad principle to bring down the value of improved property to that of unimproved. It was rather a strange proceeding for them to start out by determining to what extent property should bear a share of the taxation of the countiy, and then at once attempt to redhee the value of the property they were about to tax.

A long discussion ensued on the amendment, some members arguing for, others againit. Mr Stout moved a further amendment as follows :—“ The rateable value of any lands in counties, districts, or road boards means five per cent, on the value of the fee simple thereof, and three per cent, on the value of the improvements on the said land; and the rateable value of any land in municipalities means the rent at which such land would, with the improvements theieon, let from year to year, but shall iu no case be less than five per cent, on the value of the fee simple of the said land, with improvements. ” Mr W. Wood was suggesting an adjournment, and the Premier was opposing, when the 5.30 p.m. adjournment arrived.

At 7.30 the House resumed in Committee on the Eating Bill, and considerable discussion ensued on the question of' rating land, there being great diversity of opinion. Mr Button objected to improvements beiu -* taxed, hut the clauses generally were carried without any very material alteration.

The debate was continued until about halfpast one, by which time the Committee had reached, to clause 10, which was passed with some slight amendment. The Speaker then announced by message from the Governor the Financial Bill.

The Premier explained: two points in it, saying, first, that Abolition would come into force on the 29th of September instead of

the Ist of October—in consequence of the Ist of October falling on a Sunday, and the 30th of September being a hol'day; eecond, provision would be made for the Superintendents, but out of the revenues of the Provinces, instead of out of the Colonial revenue. , The Bill was read a first time, and the Hotuse adjourned at 1.45 a.m. ABOUT THE LOBBIES. (From <mT Special Correspondent.) The corresponderce between the Government and the Waste re Cargill and M'Leaiv’s app»- ,ca tion with telegrams, dated April 19, M* Thomson (Chief Commissioner) informing 6 Minister of Land that it is in contemplation to sell runs, and asking the views of the GehbJ'M Government thereon. He replied next day, “Delay matters as much as possible until you hear from me.” The Premier then asks for full information as to the country proposed to he sold, which Mr Thomson supplied. The Mayor of Roxburgh and public bodies in the Tuapeka district telegraphed to >• ir J. Vogel urging the interference of the Colonial Government. All the remainder of the coirespondence has been published. Mr Stout thinks some of the correspondence has not been produced. The North Otago Loan Bill proposes to amalgamate Oamaru, Kakanui, and Moeraki Road Boards, and empowers the first to borrow Llßo,ooo, Kakanui L 12,000, and Moeraki L 20,000. Mr Brandon notifies his refusal to go with the Opposition in the Separation scheme. Mr Stout’s Local Option Bill meets with more encouragement than was at first supposed. Auckland generally will support it if the House accepts Sir R. Douglas’s amendment making it compulsory on districts if they close licensed houses to provide proper accommodation houses. Theugh beattn last night by the chair main’s casting vote, M r Stout intends moving the recommittal of the Rating Bill in order to continue the practice iil VPgue in Otago in serving notice of valuation oii a party interested. _ ‘ The county boundaries do not finer javor with the Otago members, and the GoveiT 1 ' ment intend to leave their determination to a Select Committee.

The Otago men are dead against the pre{>osed vote to Superintendents. The Auckand members held a caucus this morning, when Sir George Grey, and Messrs Lusk and Sheehan were appointed a committee to confer with committees from other Province?. Messrs Whitaker and Macfarlane were proposed, hut rejected. Sir George Grey strongly urged economical administration and more justice to Auckland. The meeting also discussed the Californian Service, and the feeling was strongly in favor of the Bay of Islands being made the port of call, the discontinuance of the coastal service, the abandonment of Fiji as a calling place, smaller boats, and, if America declines to subsidise, the abandoment of the service.