Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 10 September 1904, Page 3

Parliament.

NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE. The Land debate was brought to a close at 1.10 a.m. on Thursday morning, having lasted six days. The motion of the Premier was That, with a view to further encouraging and promoting land-settlement and removing any anomalies and disabilities, if found to exist, it is advisable that inquiry should be made in respect to tne constitution of Land Boards ; the tenures upon which lands may be obtained and occupied, and whether Crown tenants labour under restrictions which are inimical to their well-being and unnecessary in the interests ol the State; also to inquire and advise whether the residental conditions now existing are too exacting and require relaxing; and as to whether, owing to the varying conditions existing in respect to_ the climate and land configuration in the seioial parts of the colony, an alteration and variation in the law regaiding tenure and occupation is uecess.u) , also as to the rehurodnetiou ol the homestead privileges , and as to the working of the present ballot system and the dealing with applications for laud ; and as to what lands have been loaded for roads giving _ access thereto, and whether good taith has been kept, and also the amount borrowed, the amount spent, and the amount available ; also, generally, as to whether lessees of the Crown are placed at a disadvantage in borrowing privately or irom the Advances to Settlers Office: anil, lastly, us to the condition and position'of those of our colonists holding and occupying the lauds ot the State under the several tenures now oh'turning. The result ot such enquiry to be laid oa tbe table of the House

not later than fourteen days aftef the opening of the next session of Parliament, The following amendment was moved by (ho leader of the Opposii tion, Mr Massey I t. This House, as representing the people—(a) recognises the urgent necessity for reform in the land laws of the colony: fb) assorts its competency to devise remedial measures which would be occasioned by the appointment of h Commission of Inquiry: and (c) is therefore, of opinion that it should be afforded an opportunity during the present session of passing the necessary legislation. z. That with a view to further encouraging and promoting settlement, giving more confidence to those occupying the lands and removing causes of irritation, it is desirable — (a) that tenants occupying Crown lands under lease-in-perpetuity, who have complied with reasonable conditions, shall be allowed the option converting their leaseholds into freeholds, with limitation of area, and that all moneys so received shall be used for the purchase of further land under the Land for Settlements Act. (b) That the conditions of occupation and residence shall be accommodated to the exigencies of pioneer settlement, and that the regulations governing the cultivation and management of land held under lease from the Crown shalt be modified to suit climatic conditions and the characteristics of the soil, (c) That the principle of the homestead provisions of the Land Act, 1885, shall he embodied in the Land Act. (d) That Parliament shall be given an early opportunity of deciding whether the constitution of Land Boards should be altered in the direction of securing the more effective representation of the views of Crown tenants. The amendment was negatived by 44 votes to 2G. Messrs Bedford and Lawry, who voted for the amendment, explained that they did so under a misapprehension. The motion of the Premier to set up the Royal Commission was then put and carried by 45 votes to 26.