HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Manawatu Herald, 31 July 1894, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday, July 27.

The Speaker took the chair at 2.80 p.m.

An Imprest Supply Bill (No 2) was passed through all stages. The Hon W. J. M. Larnach, the , new member for Tuapeka, took the j oath.

The Hamilton Domains Empowering Bill was introduced and read a first time.

At the evening sitting, the debate on the Lands for Settlement Bill was resumed.

Mr Stevens believed this Bill was required. Sir R, Stout congratulated the Minister of Lands on having improved the Bill since last year. This Bill practically abolished freehold in New Zealand, and another danger was that there was no guarantee that the size of a man's holding would not be still further limited in future years ; while a third circumstance was that the whole training of our race had been in favour of fieehold tenure, and to give a perpetuity to the home of the family, and this principle was sadly attacked by thi3 Bill. He objected that this Bill was not what the Bill of Mr Ballance aimed at. The area ought to be limited for first-class agricultural land to 100 acres. The measure was practically a Bill to give large holdings to large farmers. There was another point, regarding which he believed the Bill would be amended. Let them suppose that a man had 2000 acres, and that 1000 acres were taken from him ; if he had buildings suitable for carrying on a farm of 2000 acres ho ought to be compensated ; and if he did not wish to continue farming at 1000 acres, there should be some provision by which the Government would take over the remainder of his land at a valuation. He held that it was entirely unwarranted that we should go to an expenditure of £250,000 as here proposed for settlement. ....... -^ Mr Lang did not see the necessity for this Bill.

Messrs. McGowan and Flatman supported the Bill. " Mr O'Regan opposed it. Messrs Collins, Batto^ Bsup\f fJ ty. Russell approved of the Bill. Messrs Earnshaw, Buchanan, ,B. Thompson, wore against it. .' ' ; ; Messrs Morrison, Tanner, Cartoa^ and Major Harris approved pf it; [ f Mr Hone Heke objected to tb'a Bill. "■ lll ;:;" J " Messrs Maslin, G. J. Smith aria Hall supported theJp^^W^ The Minister of Lands mo^gf adjonrnment of the dabafceV3p|lg!|| The House adjourned a^^p^ a.m. . r