House of Representatives.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 292, 7 September 1910, Page 5

House of Representatives.

The House, met at 2.30 p.m. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT FINANCE BILL. ' The Land for Settlement Finance | Amendment Bill was introduced by 1 Governor's message. i Replying to Mr Massey, Sir Joseph Ward said the Bill was intended to en- ; able the officers to be appointed specij ally to carry out the intention of and ! the principal of the Act, in the negoj tiations for the disposal of land be- ; tween the Minister and the Associa- [ tion. The maximum area of land that : can be acquired was raised from 200 ; to 500 acres. | Referring to the remarks by Mr I Taylor on the charges made by Mr : Hine against members of Parliament who had, he alleged, received com- ; missions for acting as agents in tho sale of estates to the Government;, Sir Joseph Ward stated that when the charges were first made he (Sir Joseph) bad written to the chairman of the Land Purchase Hoard, and Messrs MeKerrow, Barron and Ritchie, : asking them if the Government had attemptedto bring pressure to bear upon : the Land Purchase Board. The reply : was in the distinct negative. Tho Government, bad no power in regard to I the purchase of estates beyond accepting or rejecting the recommendations iof the Land Purchase Board. If Mr i Hine knew of any improper transacI lions it. was his duty to name tho ; parties responsible for them, otherwise i a reflection was allowed to remain on every member of the House at, the time j the charges were made. Mr Hine said the reason for not I divulging the names was that he did i not think it right io do so unless ho | knew a tribunal would be set up 1° ! try the members he referred to. If I the Premier appointed a Commission ! he was prepared to state all the facta. j A sitting member on the Government i side of the House at. last, general clecI tion had admitted having accepted a ! commission for placing a petition bcj fore the House, yet .Sir Joseph Ward had gone into the farmers' district and made a policy speech. ' Sir Joseph Ward: Who was the man? Mr Hine: He was my opponent. The Premier said there was only a short word to characterise the statement;, but he. was not permitted to use it Jf Mr Hine would repeat tho remarks outside the House, he. (Sir Joseph Ward) would take steps to protect himself. Mr Massey quoted from the Act to show that the Minister of Lands had a direct voice in the purchase of estates so far as making an offer for land was concerned. Sir Joseph Ward said that Mr Masscy's impressions were unfounded. The Minister could only act on the recommendation of the Board. Nor could he take any part, in the negotiations or make offers for a purchase of lands. Hon. Thos. Mackenzie said so far as the. Governmei.it was concerned their care and honesty in regard to purchase of estates could net be questioned. His own opinion was that the Government was not, paying a large enough price for estates in many cases, and its attitude was,, if anything, too conservative, with the result that many good estates were lost to the country. Replying to Mr F. M. R. Fisher, the Premier said if Mr Mine disclosed the names he (Sir Joseph Ward) would undertake to make inquiry into the matter. Mr Hine suggested that. Supreme Court, judges be appointed as a Commission. He was prepared to pay the cost; of the inquiry if he failed to prove his charges. Other Bills introduced by Governor's message were: Bill to Encourage tho Beet. Sugar Industry, an Act authorising' expenditure of an additional sum 0f'£."5,1100 on (he Butt railway, Government Railways Amendment Act, P.ION, the Canterbury Agricultural College Act. Amendment Bill, and a Bill to Amend the Law Relating to ;he Control of Mentally Defective Pei sons. The House at 5..'10 p.m. EVENING SITTING. At the evening sitting Sir J. Ward announced the appointment of Col. Godley as Commandment of the New Zealand Forces, with the rank of Major-General, at a salary of £IOOO and a house allowance of £2OO. He would have supremo command of the forces and the fullest, responsibility ix\ connection with matters appertaining to his department. The House went into Committee on the Native Townships Bill, which was reported, and the House rose at 12.35 a.m.