BUCKLAND PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 50, 29 June 1915, Page 4

BUCKLAND PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

Amusing Proceedings.

The third meeting of the above took place on Wednesday evening last in the Buckland Hall. The visitors' gall" ry and also the members' benches were well iilled.

So interesting ar.d amusing were the pruceedinis that the two hours went too quickly, and one member proposed to hold the meeting half an hour longer.

The Speaker, Mrs H. H. D. Wily, took the chair at 7.30 ar.d declared the House open.

Mr H. H. D. Wily asked why the Mace was not on the table. The Premier said the Mace was pawned by the previous Government, but promised tn redeem th: same for the next meeting.

The Premier was congratulated by the cross bench leader, Mr H. H. D. Wily, on the increase of his family, and a gull cradle ia expected to be forthc:ming. Proceedings opened with the usual questions. Interrogators were informed that ihe l'iggot Government arc going to charge passengers on the railway by weight and to probihit tobacco.

When ask:d for pure beer, the reply was that the Government were going tu stop beer altogether.

It was suggested that the Government should prohibit narrow skirt', but tne reply firtf.coming was "freedom in all things." The Electoral Bill was placed on the tabh, and being read by the Hon. A. P. Home was passed. The Finance Bill was placed ori the table and was read by the Hon. 0. G. Avery and was pass;d.

The Premier laid the Land Bill on the tablr,. the fallowing being the text:— 1. Tiile. 2. Private owner, means owr.er in fee simple. 3. State, means the Dominion of New Zaland.

4. Natonal debt, means debt of the Dominion of New Zealand.

5. Tenant, means occupier. 1. The short title of this Act will be the Lai;d Act, IIJI6,l I JI6, 2. All hnd comprised within the I,'oaiir.ion of New Zealind shall b c m; (he property ot the State from the First Day of January, iy 16, suhj=ut to the indebtedness of the State acknowledged to be due to Brisi'h moneylender?. 3. Private owteis of property will be compensated in accordance with and in proportion to the value or values as fixed by the State Valuer or Valuers, fcfter deducting the estimated proportion of National Debt thereon.

4. Commissioners shall be appointed lo assess all land values and apportionment of rents. 5. Farms of ins.ructinn shall be established at places appointed by the Stat'.'.

6. Q lalitication of tenant or tenants shall be decided by examination trfore a Board of Examiners appointed l,y the State. 7, The atate shall appcint Inspectirs whose duty shall be to see that all cjnditions of agreement are fulfilled by the tenant appointed under this Act.

8. Every tenant shall have an agreement with the State, as follows:

A. The right to use and occupy the said land bo long aa the conditions of agreement are compelid with. 13. Such tenant ehall be entitled to a copv of said agreement. L. A tenant may convey his interest to his nominee or other teuant, undar State supervision, subject to the following conditions:— D. Provided the terms of trie agreement are complied with. F. The value of the tenants interests tn be approved by the State. F. When a tenant or tenants wish to dispose of their holding they shall notify the ths Commissioner of his intent, who shall cause the said htldir.g to be advertised three times in a Gazette circulating in the district nearest to tte property, on three successive weeks, from the first of such advertisements appearing prior to transfer.

9. If there be mere than one applicant for the same property the Commissioner shall appoint a ballot to be taken to decide who is the successful applicant after having given public notice as directed in sub-section F,-clause 8. 10. All lands, holdings, tenements. or property of any description whatsoever, the property o! the Statf, ahai 1 ipon any breach., of ac>re<-nienl to liable lO'iorleiture. .'1- Pr>e~ 'State shall at any time under this Act take land and do an things for making railways, roads and tridgea in anv part of the Dominion, and should any dispute arise regarding compensation it shall be settled by arbitration. 12. All acts, works, and deeds done by the State shall be deemed legal under this Act or Amendments, without recourse to legal proceedings. The Premier intimated his intention of parsing the Land Bill into law even at the point of the bayonet. When it comes up tor discussion at the next meeting things promise to be lively, and it remains to ce seen whether, pledged to such a debatable measure the Social Democrats wiil be able to retain their possession of the Treasury Benches.