HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 33, 3 September 1892, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, September i. The Minister for Lnnds. in moving thnt the Hriuse go into committee on the Land Bill, said a great many alterations had been made by the Waste Lands Committee, the principal of which was the lense in perpetuity instead of the per petnal lense. There was also an amendment enabling lessees to borrow monej on their holdings after 12 months' pos* session. He snid those who took up land under the special settlement system had never been promised the freehold bj him, but he was prepared to accept a surren* der of these holding and open the hind for application immediately, so that they could apply for it under any system of tenure they chose. Dr Newman thought lease in perpetuity would be very popular, because it practically gave people a freehold with out requiring them to pay for it. Sir George Grey ontended that the law proposed was in favour of absentees, who were uot required to improve their land, while it wa« correspondingly liar j on settlers, especially in regard to residence regulations and the small size of holdings. Why, he asked, was there no equality in their laws, and why not have regulntions of residence applicable to all alike? He contended that most of the settlement* had been failures because of the localities in which thoy were placed, and the harsh terms under winch they were allowed to go on the land He wanted & man to be able to go on the land free of all restrictions, and said the House must insist upon that. He spoke strongl? in favour ot retaining the free* hold, and conkaded that if Jaws were made for all alike, New Zealand would soou be populated and flourishing. Messrs G Hutchisun, G. F Kichnrdson, Duthie, Valentine, McGuire and Ehodes adversely criticised the Bill Mr Bruce said the Bill had received a good deal of adverse criticism, to which he did not think it was entitled. The Minister deserved a great deal of credit for bringing in such a consolidating measure, nnd be (Mr Bruce) agreed with it in many respects, except in regard to the attempt to deprive people of the right to obtain the freehold. The motion to go into committee on the Bill was then carried. September 2. The afternoon was occupied with a discussion on the Labour Bureau, many members condemning it. The Land Bill was considered in committee. — ClauseS, 4 Interpretation.' — The Leader of the Opposition wanted to know what was going to be done about the lease in perpetuity, which he contended was a change of policy.— Sir George Grey said they should lay party on one side, and all try to do their best for the colony. — Mr Brnce said he should vote against the perpetual lease system, and because he was an out and out advocate for freehold. — The clause was retained on division by 45 to 15. Clause 87, f married women disqualified from selection.' — On a division the clause was retained by 24 to 15. The House rose at 2.10 a.m.