THE LAND BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1872, 29 September 1906, Page 3

THE LAND BILL.

(Special to Times) 3 Wellington, last night. Tho Land Bill was lurthcr considered by tho Lands Committee to day. Tbe m--rubers cams out of th 9 commiiloa rooms soonor than was ant’oip-ted, and tbo first surmise was that tho Land Bill bad rec ivedits fioi-hir.g touches at tbe hands of tbe corrmbier, but a rumor quickly spread throughout tho lobbies, and even to tbo city, that a crisis had arisen. Unfortunately I cannot send anything about what actually occurred in the committee in tho way of amending the Bil as that would bo a breach of privilege. The fsc", however, was patent that though tho Government had expressed a hops that the Bill would have been fiuafiy deal) with by the committee to-day it was not reported to the Housp. The announcement that the matter was to be brought before the House heightened the interest, and when tho House met at 2,30 ttiere wa3 an usually large githeriog of members.

“Is it true that a serious crisis has oeourred in the Linds Committee on the Lands Bui ?” wbb tho question tbit was put by Mr A. L. D. Fraser to the Premier. "If the report is incorrect ?" continu’ d Mr Fraser, •* will ths Premier oonsider tbe convenience and interests of members by giving an intimation as to when the Bill will be reported to the Hcuse ? ' AH eyes were turned with eogirnass on Sir Joseph Ward as he rose to reply. 11 I am very glad,” he said, “ to tell the hon. gentlemen that there is no oriais. Sometimes efforts a:e mads to oreate a crisis, but they vory often m’ss fire. In tbe ease I can give him an assurauoe that he will get the Land Bill in duo course.” Unfortunately Mr McNab was not in the Houss when tbe question was put, and hon. members who were 11 in tbe know ”

smiled broadly at the Premier's ingenuity ia parrying the question. Later. —Is is stated in the lobbies tonight that some of the Government supporteis waited upon the Minister for Lands, and told him that the Land B 11 had not the slightest chance of pissiog in its present form, and that alter discussion a compromise was arranged, the purport of which is that the present lease-in-perpetuity holders will be allowed to pay off 9J per oant of the oapitil yaluo of their holdings. S.mo prominent m.inkers of the oountry party to whom I have spoken, however, say tley have heard nothing of such a conference. Time will show whetf o: any credence is to bo placed in thi rumor