THE LAND BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2212, 16 October 1907, Page 2

THE LAND BILL.

DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE.

Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. After midnight clauses 41 to 46 passed unamended. At clause 47 (tho Board may, with tho consent in each case of the Minister, dispose of any Crown landß by way of sale in fee simple as a site for a dairy factory, cheese factory, fruit preserving factory, or creamery), Sir William Steward moved to add the words, “church, manse, or parsonage and for a glebe in connection therewith, or for any other purpose which in tho opinion of tho said Board and the said Minister renders such a sale expedient in public interest. Agreed to on tho voices. Progress was reported, -aflid tho Houso rose at 12.10 a.m. The House sat at 2.30, and after 'minor business went into Committoo on tlio Land Laws Amendment Bill. Clause 48 was taken. This provides that in cases of a ballot preference should be given to landless first, the Board’s decision as to landless being final. The applicant is deemed to be landless within the meaning of •the section if lie does not hold under any tenure such area as is in tlio Board’s opinion sufficient for tlio maintenance of himself 4 and family. In case of husband and wife (except where judicially separated), if either is not landless neither shall be deemed landless. The Hon. Mr. McNab said it would not he possible to frame it as a regulation that was for the absolute guidance of a Board. Mr. Massey urged that preference should be given to applicants under the Lands for Settlements Act to men with small capital and a family rather than, as was done at present, to men with a large amount of capital.

Mr. Hogg thought the clause would prevent tho ballot-box being stuffed by people who merely required land for speculative purposes. It would not throw out from the ballot-box the mail who had not sufficient land to maintain his family. The clause was passed unaltered.

.Clause 49 gives preference to (a) married men with children, (b) widowers with children, (c) widows with children, (d) married women with children and judicially separated from tlieir husbands. Mr. Malcolm moved an amendment to make preference contingent on the applicant having practical knowledge of farming. Air. Hogg, in opposing the amendment, said he knew of shoemakers, tailors, and boilermakers who had never had any previous experience on the land, and who were now amongst the most successful farmers in the North Island.

Air. Laurenson quoted a number of instances of tradesmen, clerks, and laborers who had achieved success as farmers on tile Cheviot Estate.

Tiie Hon. Air. AlcNab asked if the amendment was carried how were they to get the people out of the towns? He was surprised to boar the amendment proposed by a town representative. He added that if the lion, member for Clutha investigated, he would not find 25 of the farmers who had always been on the land. Air. Fisher contended that there was no necessity for the amendment, as not 1 per cent, of applications came from the cities. .

Air. Bennett, in opposing the amendment, said the most successful settler in his electorate was a sailor, who had never had any previous experience on the land. Air. Alalcolm said that whilst it seemed to he tire desire to get men from cities on to land, the desire of keeping men in the country who were already on the land must not be lost sight of. Owing to the difficulty in obtaining land men from the country came into the towns, and were only successful in obtaining employment in the lowest walks of life, plainly laboring. Under the terms of his amendment a chance would be given to nren with practical knowledge of farming. The amendment was lost on the voices.

Mr. Lang contended undre the clause they were cutting out the most suitable class, particularly in regard ,to bush lands, where hard work had to be done for years, and it was not advisable to take women for some time. He urged that encouragement should be given to single men and the newly-married men. “As it was, a man might have a grownup family, and as lie came within the meaning of sub-section A he would be given preference, even though liis children might not intend to go on the land, but might he scattered all over the country. •Mr. Fisher contended that the effect of the clause was to bar single men, who at present constituted over 50 per cent, of tho applicants for land. The Hon. Mr. MeNab contended that for every single man who got on the land he excluded a family from so doing. As a large number of applications were being liiade by married men who had been subjected to disappointment in their efforts to secure land, it was advisable- to reduce the disappointments, even if it did so at the expense of single men. He added that the olause would prevent dummyism, as it was usually the single man who was used for tills purpose by speculators. He would be prepared to strike out the words “with children” after married men. This would meet Mr. Lang’s views. Mr. "Witty hoped the House would not agree to Mr. McNiah’s suggestion.

Mr. Ma ssey urged tliat-jirefereuc© should he given to applicants who had been previously" unsuccessful, then to married and single men, who should be placed on the same basis. He contended that they should give every encouragement to young single men, not altogether at the expense of married men, because much of the Crown lands remaining were of such a character that it was positively cruel to send women there. He urged that the clause should bo struck out altogether, as it was not possible to amend it satisfactorily. Mr. Laurenson contended that encouragement should he given to married men. H e added that if they were to keep back the black and yellow mail it was by populating the country, and the best means of doing so was by giving preference to married men with a large cron of children.

The Premier said he had suggested to tho Minister that the clause should bo struck out and another one drafted. Provision should bo made for eases in which land was not suitable and to encourage married men to go upon it. iMr. Massey said it seemed to be the impression in countries outside New Zealand that it was Possible to got our young men out of the Dominion. Ho cited instances from Queensland, in which preference was being given—-according to an advertisement, a cony of which anpeared in the current issue of the Brisbane Courier —-to New Zealanders./ Argentine was also endeavoring to attract New Zealanders, and to counteract these it was advisable to encourage our young men to remain in the Dominion.

.Mr. Thompson said lie had lately been consulting statistics, and had ascertained that 25,000 persons had left Victoria, tho majority of whom had come to New Zealand. The Premier said the Government was fully alive to the necessity of retaining the young men in the colony, and the desire of the Government was to see that married men with children had better chances for going on the land than they had had in the past. Mr. Mackenzie urged that the Government should take authority for acquiring more land, in order . Ito meet the demand that was being made for land. Estates were going into the hands of speculators every week and being subdivided. Ho contended tile House would agree to tho expenditure of two millions for the- nurpose of making land avai'lablo," and he urged that the Government should acquire estates whilst there was a desire of the people t<?

the.‘cities for tiro country. Uhs would enable settlers to take up land at a price that would enable them to 111 Mr. that the greater part of the single men who went on the land did not intend to stick to it, but merely to hold it for speculativo purposes. He added that pro* ference should be given to nuurieu men, and he hoped the Minister would stick to the clause. , .Mr. Mels ab said it was not mtencled to abandon the clause altogetuei, hut in giving the preference to married men in tlio face of the large number of applications that weie coming forward it would have the effect of excluding the chance o single men. The new clause, whilst giving preference to married men, would not exclude single men. The clause was struck out. Clause 50, “Preference to former applicants who within tlio previous two years have competed at least twice* unsuccessfully at any other land ballot.’’ ,Mr. Hornsby moved to strike out the words “at least twice.” The Hon. Mr. MoNab saul lie was prepared to accept the amendment. Mr. Herries pointed out that there werp thousands who had been unsuccessful at the ballot, consequently the effect of the amendment would be to limit the ballot to unsuccessful men. He urged that all should be allowed to go into tbe ballot. The. Minister contended the clause made provision for these contingencies. A first applicant could not obtain a section against a former unsuccessful applicant, but on next occasion the applicant would obtain preference. Mr. Herries pointed out that under the clause a first applicant could not go to the ballot in the event of unsuccessful applicants applying. Mr. Hornsby withdrew the amendment. Tlio Minister amended the clause to give preference to persons who have applied unsuccessfully for. any allotment open for public selection. Mr. Fisher urged that at the ballot in case of married men a separate marble should be put in for each child. This would give preference to married men, and would admit of single men having a chance. The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr. McNab said that during the adjournment he had looked into the ouestion, and deemed it advisable to strike out clauso 50, with a view to introducing another clause at- a later stage. The clauso was accordingly struck out. Clause 51 (regulation as to conduct of ballots), clause. 52 (decision of the Board to be final), and clause 53 (Board may oxamino applicants before ballot) were passed unamended.

CROPPING AND IMPROVE MENTS.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. Two members of Parliament, headed by Sir William Steward, waited upon the Minister for Lands to-day with a request that the Land Bill should be amended in the direction of freeing Crown tenants from the operation of cropping regulations where they put 50 per cent of improvements on their holdings. The Minister in reply, said the proposals of the Bill when in Committee had been enormously modified in the direction referred to by tbe deputation. Ho took it that the deputation wanted a modification, rather than the abolition of the regulations. He did not know to what extent this could be done, but he would go into the regulations to, see if the Cjovernment could not be milder in its requirements. _______