HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9792, 16 October 1917, Page 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

LANDS ACT AMENDMENT .BILL READ A FIRST TIMEThe House of Keprescntattoos met at 7.30 p.m. yesterday, -the Speaker (Sir F. W- Lang) in the chair. * . .. Tho Land Laws Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Govcmor-Gonral’s message. Replying to tlje Hon. D., Buddo (Kola-* poi), the Friine Minister stated, that, the bill "was purely-a, departmental rq e a. s n r c* The ’most ■ important'cla'hsh/'refejTed. to. a legal - difficiilty that 'had cropped up in the Taranaki district. By a'' very, ancient law 25 per cent, of the. revenue from tha sale of Crown lands in -Taranaki went to the New Flymon*di Harboiir Board. Lately the Government hafi been buying some very valuable, lands, mostly from the natives;, and. one-' fourth of any profit op such/’ transactions, under the old law,'ivouW/go 1 to" the harbour board. • That'''liau j v’never" been intended by the people -responsible for the Act. ;• v :-.-* o Mr C. A- AYilliamson’ (Egmont)The board doesnlt want'that.” - - - Mr Massey: “The board ; is -so -, awareof the injustice .of .the-, -position-- thfththey have never claimed..it- ■ . 1- -.VI i 'Mr Buddo wished-’tq’ hare .another amendmeut of- the Act included in ,tlie bill, but' the . Prime’ Minister' said" that the Government desired to' avoid' controversial matters, and he suggested, that the haul member’should . let the-matter stand over 'till another occasion.- - The MU was. read a. first ..time, and’ referred to’ the Lands Committee,., * - : The discussion “on Dm’ .report-'of the Cost 'of ’ Living . Committee- and - other matters, are dealt with elsewhere. ' -