LAND TENURE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 493, 21 August 1912, Page 5

LAND TENURE.

DEBATED IN PARLIAMENT. LEASEHOLD AMENDMENT DEFEATED. f lIY TKl.KlijtAl'll. I'RKSS ASSOCIATION.] Welling'on, Tuesday. Mr Craigie, in speaking on tho Budget said that regarding land settlement, no country in tho world was better adapted for the, small farmer than New >';• n 1 What they wanted was public wjvka and imigration. He intended to divide, the House on the laud quesfivm, and moved tho following amendment: "That in the opinion of the House tho time ha i arrived when the national e?t;r,.e of 1,-mil should be rigidly conserve.!, and that hereafter no lan ! of the Crown shall l.ie alienated otherwise than by way of renewable lease, with periodical re-valuation of tho land.'' Mr Colvin seconded the nmi'iulmeiit;,' Mr Massey asked whether ho was to understand the amendment moved came from tho leader of the. Opposition, or whether it had his approval. ■ —Mr Craigie replied that ho moved the amendment on his own initiative. He did not ask anyone in his party. Mr Robertson said he approved of the amendment. They had heard ho much about the lan 1 question that they were justified in disansing it. He did not believe tho late Government had been responsible for the increase in values. He urged that, the land nearest the cities should be settled more closely, and made mare productive. There, could be 110 objection to tho freehold tenure, if the occupier made the best use of the land. Mr Wilfurd welcomed the. amendment. It would settle the question of leasehold and freehold and allow tho House to get 0:1 with more important matters. Mr Laureneon said he. would stick to the leasehold principles even though it cost him his seat. Mr l'earco held that, freehold was the best; way to settle the land and make if reproductive. Mr Russell said when Mr Craigio moved t; o limit the tenure to leasehold he must expect t.o lind aomo of ihe Liberal party against him. Had he attempted to aflirm the principle of reservation of one half of tho land he would have had some support. Mr Davey said lie was astonished at the speech by Mr Russell. "1 have heard a good deal of twisting and turning," he said, "but that takes the cake." He regretted Mr Russell had gone back on his leasehold convictions." Aftur Mr Ell and Mr R. Bollard had referred to Univeristy endowments, the amendment was put and lost by 52 to 14. Mr A. Scholes, chairman of tho Waitomo County Council, intends paying a visit to Wellington on Friday next. There are. a number of matters which wore arranged with tho late Government, in respect, to road grants and subsidies, and Mr Scholes' mission is chiefly in connection with those. About 70,0110 Loch Leven and brown trout are being hatched at the Stratford hatcherioii. The Strafford Society is arranging for the distribution of 80 pheasant?. We have pleasure in recording tho success of Mr Tassell i 1 the baritone solo at ihe Auckland annual competitions, securing second position in tho final. Miss E. Ormbsy, pupil of Miss Ilandyside, has secured award in tho preparatory division of Trinity Collego of Music examination, after eight and a half months' tuition,. Tho points gained by Miss Ethel Ormsby totalled GG.