Latest From Wellington.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 230, 13 October 1905, Page 2

Latest From Wellington.

SPECIAL TO THE SETTLE*. By Telegraph. Wellington, Thurs., Oct. 12. The big land tenure question, after being shelved for a couple of weeks, again came under discussion on Monday evening, when several divisions took place. By a majority of 88 to 80, the House affirmed that no further leases in perpetuity should be granted, by 32 to 29 that leases under “ Land for Settlement Act ” should not have the right to acquire the freehold, and by 41 to 22 that the law should be amended so that all future leases should be granted for a term not exceeding 90 year?. Some crucial questions have yet to be determined, yiz., whether future leases under “ Land for Settlement Act" should concede right of purchase ; whether the principal shall be recognised at all with regard to other Crown lands, and if so on what valuation. For the present the debate stands over indefinitely. The Wellington Post declares that the Premier’s masterly procrastinations have purposely made any comprehensive legislation on the land question by the present Parliament an impossibility. Mr Lang, in his contribution to this debate, maintained that Crown tenants should have the right to acquire the freehold at tho original valuation. He dwelt on the unsatisfactory position in regard to land loaded for roads that have not been made. Mr Ling stated that it was now admitted that the Land Commission was set up to put off the freffiold question till after the elections, and thus prevent Gov eminent .-upporters having to give a direct vote against the freahold. The G iveram* nt, be maintained, had not he 0 lurage to f ice the question, or they would have brought down a La id Bill early in the session, instead of th 1 resolution appointing a Royal Com mission.