THE LAND BILL PASSED.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 48, 22 August 1894, Page 2

THE LAND BILL PASSED.

The House met at 2.30. In reply to questions it was stated the Government considered a conference should be held either in this colony or in some other colony to estahlish a reciprocical tariff treaty; That the Great Powers had not accepted the recommendation of the Government with respect to the federation of Samoa and New Zealand ; That the Government had no reason to believe that auy other financial institutions would boadversly affected by the recent banking legislation ; That the question of controlling the note issue of the colony would receive very careful consideration. The Government Liceusing Bill was introduced by a message from the Government und read a first time. Mr McKenzie (Bullerj, moved the adjournment of the House to enable him to protest against the delay that was taking place in the prosecution of the Midland Railway. Mr Seddon said that the Midland Railway Cotumitteo 'would have reported that day, but for the late hours kept by the House at the last sitting. The Government would do what was fair Jand reasonable in the matter. After a short discussion the subject dropped. The Hon. J. McKenzie moved the third reading of the Land for Settlement Bill, saying he did not intend to have the Bill recommitted. Any small amendments that worn required could be made in the Legislative Council. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. On the House resuming at 7.30., the debate on the third reading of the Land for Settlement Bill was continued throughout the evening, a large number of members taking part. Sir R. Stout said that by the Bill all freehold in New Zealand was abolished. He objected to the constitution of a Land Purchase Board which was wholly a political one. The Bill was entirely in the wrong direc tion, and was a borrowing measure to the extent of a million and a quarter. Mr Bell moved the Bill be recommitted for the purpose of limiting the L25,()00 proposed to be borrowed under the Bill, for one year. Mr Seddon said the Government could not accept Mr Bell's amendment. As to Sir R. Stout's contention that the abolition of freehold was advanced Liberalism ho (Mr Seddon) thought that was confiscation, and could not agree to it. He denied that the Board was of a political character, and also denied the Bill authorised borrowing, as they would get land in exchange for their money. The Hon. Mr Reeves defended the action of the Government over the Bill, and said they preferred to get it passed with lease in perpetuity rather than with perpetual lease with the option of freehold tacked on to it. Mr Bell's amendment was negatived by 40 to 13. Mr McKeazie saiJ that on three different occasions perpetual lease with the right of freehold was carried in the House, and on three different occasions was swept away by the Legislative Councl. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The House rose at 12.45.