HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 94, 17 October 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House mot at 2.30 Mr C. H. Mills «aye notice to introduce the Criminal Code Amendment Act 1895, as the outcome of the failure of the recent appeal in the Cbeiuis case. Captain Russell asked if the Premier could give the Home any indication as to when the agreement between the Colonial Bank and Bank of New Zealand for the purchase of the former institution would be laid on the table. The Hon Mr tieddon in reply gave a most emphatic denial to the published statement that Government were keeping back their business until the agreement came down. He understood the agreement had been come to between sellers and purchasers, and details were now beinp arranged. That being the case he expected to have the agreement laid before the House in definite shape the next day. He wished to say emphatically, however, that Government were not go ing to keep back the business of the House and country for any bank. The House went into Committee on the Native Land Lawn Amendment Bill. Considerable discussion took place on clause five " purchaser to make declaration and no alienation to be confirmed by the court in favor of persons holding more than 640 acres." My R. Thompson moved to strike out the clause as it meant stoppage of settle' ment in the North. The Hon Mr Seddon cotnbatted the statement that his native policy was blocking settlement, but said it would prove disastrous to land jobbers. Messrs Massey, W. Kelly and Dnthie expressed the opinion that the native land policy of the Government was interfering with settlement. The Hon Mr Seddon said he did not desire to place natives at a greater disadvantage than Europeans under the present Land Act;, and he should therefore agree to amend the clause so as to provide that no alienation of land should oe made in favor of holding more than 640 acres of first class land, 2000 acres second class land and 5000 acres of third class land. Eventually the clause was postponed so that it might be amended to bring it in [ conformity with the Land Act. The amendments made by the Native Affairs Committee in the other clauses were agreed to. In clause 43, which gives the Crown the right to determine any lease where it wishes to purchase native land, the Premier proposed an amendment that compensation to lessees should be determined as under the Land for Settlement Act. Strong exceptions was taken to the clause, members stating it wonld give insecurity of tenure to lessees, who would not improve the land if they were liable to be turned off at a moment's notice, The Premier agreed to insert a proviso that no lease shall be determined except on the recommendation of the Land for Settlement Board of the district. It was decided after two hours' discussion, that compensation should be determined in the same manner as provided by the Public Works Act in cases where the land was taken for a public road. An amendment by Mr Thos. Mackenzie that the Bill should not apply to Native land leased in the South Island was lost by 34 to 26. The clause as amended was added to the Bill by 46 to 16. The Public Wprks and Government Railway Acts Amendment Bill, which Mr Seddon explained was merely of a technical and departmental character, was read a second time. The Native Land Laws Amendment Bill was further amended in committee and put through its final stages. The House rose at 2 am.