HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 86, 8 October 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, October 7. At ToO the House went into Commitioo on the Laud for Settlements Act Auk ndment Bill. 1 he Minister for Lands asked for leave to refer to what had taken place with regard to the connection between the Government land policy and the troubles of the Bank of New Zealand. He went on to explain that the troubles had arisen before the present Government came into office. Mr Joyce (the acting Chairman of Committee) asked if the Minister was making a personal explanation, and as this was not so, he ruled that the explanation must be deferred to the third reading. The Miaister said he only wished to explain, as harm might be done owing to his former remarks being misunderstood. However, he would certainly go into the matter on the third reading. Mr Buddo moved an amendment authorising the Minister to appoint a Consulting Board, consisting of members of local bodies in various districts in connection with the purchase of estates. The motion was lost. Mr Mackenzie moved on behalf of Captain Russell a new clause providing than when two or more members are farming in partnership, each of them shall be allowed the same limitations aud conditions as prescribed for each person as the prescribed maximum in the original Act. The Minister offered to agree to this if limited to not more than two persons in partnership. The new clause was read a second time by 30 to 21. The effect of the new clause allows each of two partners to retain the prescribed maximum fixed in the principal Act. Mr G. W. Russell moved as an amendment, that in order to come under the provisions of the above clause, the partnership must have existed for at least two years prior to any directions by the Minister for opening negotiations was carried. The Minister of Lands moved the following proviso, That for the purpose of this section uo person shall be deemed a partner whose share is less than the prescribed maximum. —Carried. Sir R. Stoub said this proviso made the whole clause so idiotic that he would vote for striking out the whole of it.— Clause added by^27 to 25. Mr Mackenzie moved, on behalf of Captain Russell, that the owner in addition to the prescribed maximum may retain for each child 500 acres and 2000 acres pastoral land.—This was lost. The Minister of Lands moved that unformed and unused road lines intersecting land acquired, may be closed by a Gazette notice with the consent of the local body. —Carried. The Ministes of Lands also moved a clause giving the Land Board power to deal with small areas of crown lands adjacent to land acquired under the principal Act as land is dealt with thereunder. The Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill was then further considered in Committee. In Committee on the Land and Income Assessment Bill clause 9 was amended by striking out the retrospective provision. In the same clause the provision making the land tax a permanent one on Native leases was struck out in order to make the clause conform with the previous amendments. The clause as amended was then passed. On the motion of Mr Ward a new clause was added providing that commercial travellers to the Colony from England or Australia shall pay a license fee not exceeding £50 in lieu of paying income tax. The Bill was then reported with amendments, which were agreed to. The third reading was set down for next day. The Land for Settlement Act Amendment Bill was reported from Committee, and the third reading fixed for next day. The House rose at 1.30 a.m.