PARLIAMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 390, 26 August 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IMMIGRATION.

The Council met at 2.30 p. m

The Hon. Maurice O'Rorke move! that the Council was of opinion that it was desirable that the Government should appoint an emigration officer in Ireland and another in Scotland, to facilitate emigration from those countries, arid that each emigrant of 21 years of age should receive 40 acres of freehold land in New Zealand.

The Hon. Luke, while not agreeing with the whole motion, took occasion to emphasise the importance of a more vigourous immigration, public works, and land settlement policy. This country should have a far larger number of settlers on it* land-; than it has. The Hon. McCardle urged the necessity for closer settlement, but objected to the proposal to give blocks of land away. The Hon. Callarn sain the scheme was impracticable. If the free-grant portion was left out he would vote for the motion, for he agreed with the importance of immigration. The Hon. Beehan expressed similar views.

The Hons. Anstey and McGowan opposed the motion, which was lost on the voices, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 230. p.m. Mr L. M. Isitt, the newly elected member for Cbristchurch North, was sworn in, and took his seat. The Methodist Charitable and Educational Trusts Bill was read a third time and passed. Speaking to the Lands Committee on the report on the Land Amendment Hill introduced by himself, Mr Newman asked that the Government should take up the measure, as it was impossible for him to go any further with it as a private member. The Bill provided for increased representation by Crown tenants on land boards. Mr W. T. Jennings supported the application for increased representationof Crown tenants. j The Hon. D. Buddu said the Bill aimed at a reduction of Government nominees on the boards. He had never had any complaint about representation on land boards, most of the duties of which were purely statutory. Crown tenants' interests were essentially their own, and no concern of the land boards. Mr Guthrie said there was no desire to infringe on the rights of Government nominees. He regretted the Government would not take the Bill up. Mr Russell said the land boards were merely vehicles for registering the decision of the Government Departments. He held that greater local knowledge was necessary to properly carry out the functions of the Boards. Land districts and land boards should be increased. ; Mr Ell maintained that the land I boards were very important institu- i tions. With regard to increased re- ) presentation, he held that Crown j tenants were only a small section of the community. ! Mr Hanan held that Crown tenants I had not shown the interest they should have done in land board matters. The Stone Quarries Amendment Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Hon. Geo Fowlds moved the second reading of the Auckland Grammar School Site Bill, which provides a suitable site for the school on the gaol reserve at Mount Eden. The Bill was read a second time. i Mr Fowlds moved the second reading \ of the Education Reserves Amendment Bill, which extends the powers of high school trustees, and removes the restrictions under the Public Bodies Leasing Act, IfUiS. Mr Field applauded the objects of I the Bill. The powers conferred by it were urgently needed by school trustees. Mr Herries welcomed the Bill from the point of view of tenants on high school reserves. The Bill was read a second time. The Patents Designs and Trade j Marks Bill was read a third time. i The Hon. J. Millar moved the ad- j journmjiit of the House to enable members to meet and welcome the Premier. The motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned till Tuesday. The House rose at 5,30 p.m.