PARLIAMENTARY.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 27, 1 August 1894, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

♦ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. LAND BILL DEBATE THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL CARRIED. [PKB PBK99 ASSOCIATION.! Wellington, July 31. The House met at 2.30. Further leave of absence for one mouth has been granted to Sir George Grey. Mr Graham (Nelson), resumed the debate on the second reading of the .Land for Settlement Bill. He said although he was a supporter of the Government be must strongly protest against being regarded as simply an automation. He thought the Minister was wrong in trying to rush the Bill through the House on Friday night Messrs W. Hutchison, J. W. Kelly, Crowther, Hall, Jones, Wilson, Hogg and Cairncross alao spoke in support of the principles of the Bill, but the opinions expressed were against the member for the district having a seat on the Land Purchase Board. The House rose at 5 30. On the House resuming at 7.30, the debate was proceeded with, and lasted throughout the evening, a large number of members taking part. The tone of the discussion was distinctly favourable to the general principles of the Bill, but several members announced their intention of endeavoring to amend it in Committee. Mr Larnach spoke in support of the Bill, but thought the people should j have the option of taking up land on any tenure they wished, but the State should fix the area. In the course of bis remarks Mr McKenzie (Minister of Lands) said he wanted the party to distinctly understand he intonded passing this Bill this session, and he should stick to every principle in it. Those members who supported the second reading with the intontioa of killing the Bill in committee might have to face their constituents and explain their position. The second reading was carried on a division by 50 to 5 (Duthie, O'Regan, Hone Hiki, Russell and Buchanan), aud the Bill was referred to the Waste Land Committee. The House rose at midnight.