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Southland Times, Issue 625, 30 January 1867, Page 3

MONDAY, 28th JANUAEY. The Speaker took the chair at 7. 15 p.m. Present — Messrs Clerke, Wood Armstrong, Toshack, Howell, Johnston, Lumsden, Blacklock, (Provincial Treasurer) Wilson (Speaker.) The minutes of previous sitting were read and confirmed. Pursuant to notice Dr Menzies moved " That the report of the .committee appointed to consider what measures should be taken to iucrease the sales of the Waste Lands, also, the effect upon the sales of land that the 15th clause of the Southland Debt Act has — and also the matter of the Pastoral Eents be adopted." The report was then read as follows : — Eeport of Committee of the Provincial Council of Southland appointed to consider what measures should be taken to increase the sale of the waste lands ; also the effect upon the sales of land that the 15th clause of the Southland Debt Act has ; and also the matter of the pastoral rents. Your committee has to report, after due consideration, that it recommends — Ist. That a resumption of immigration from the United Kingdom will very materially promote the prosperity of the Province, and directly tend to increase the sales of land, and, therefore, recommend that a sum of money should be voted during this session for the recommencing of immigration. 2nd. That the 15th clause of the Southland Debts Act, under which power is vested in the Governor to lower the price of land and to make such regulations regarding the sale as may be by him deemed expedient, has been found to operate most prejudicially, by preventing land sales; and that it is very desirable, in order to remove the uncertainty as to the future price of land, that the price should be definitely fixed for a term of years, and in any case it is absolutely necessary that no reduction in price should be made without previously submitting the matter to the General Assembly. 3rd. That the pastoral rents should, in conformity with a recommendation of a select committee of the House of Eepresentatives in the last session of the Assembly, and the understanding with the General Government at that time, be paid to the Provincial Treasurer ; and that the Provincial Government be requested to urge this, and to point out the great immediate benefits that would accrue to the Province by an expenditure of such rents upon roads and other works,

the improvement and construction of which would encourage the sales of land and settlement of the country. Cuthbert Cowan, Chairman. 25th January, 1867. Dr Menzies said that with regard to the desirability of renewed immigration the Committee were unanimous in the opinion that it would promote the prosperity of the province, and hoped that although at first only a small sum might be placed on the estimates that it would be increased from time to time as the revenue warranted. They were also unanimous in the belief that the 15th clause of Debt Act was most injurious and he (Dr M.) might say that he had opposed its insertion most strenuously. With regard to the pastoral rents they were equally at one. Dr Menzies explained at some length the circumstances leading him to consider the pastoral rents pledged to the province, and their withdrawal as a breach of an understanding with the General Government. He hoped the Council would unanimously agree to the adoption of the report. The Provincial Treasurer said the adoption of the report by the Council would materially strengthen the hands <--* iLu government, in asking for the rents, and that in their correspondence with the Colonial Secretary they would adopt the suggestions offered by the hon. mover. Dr Hodgkinson thought that any immigration they might induce should be that of families. Single men were too apt to go away while family people were more like fixtures. As the report did not commit the Council to any expenditure, and only dealt with the general principle, hon. members who objected to the introduction of labor at the present time would be able to exercise their influence when the estimates came on. Mr Tosliack said he was astonished that nothing had yet been said about extending the time for paying the debt. If the 15th clause were struck ofF to-mor-row they would not be able to pay the debt by the time specified. Mr Wood did not think it was advisable in the present state of the treasury to place a sum on the estimates for immigration. It appeared to him an attempt to pin irrelevant matter to the report to introduce the subject of immigration. Morever, in the present state of the province, he did not think it would be useful to bring in immigrants — winter was approaching, and he thought they should use what little available means they had to keep the roads in a passable state. Mr Clerke agreed with the previous speaker that roads were an imperative necessity. Mr Johnston considered the prosperity of the Province was wound up in the introduction of immigrants, and cited an instance of the result in Otago, where he said families originally assisted to amounts varying from *610 to -£100, were now contributing over £50 a year to the Customs Eevenue. Mr Lumsden believed the subject of immigration was intimately connected with land sales, and thought the remarks of the hon. member for Campbelltown were uncalled for, inasmuch as it rested with the Government to place any sum on the estimates. Mr Cuthbertson moved the adoption of the report, on the understanding that it committed to no expenditure. He complimented the committee on the way they had performed their work, and stated the rest of the report received his most cordial assent. Mr Pearson thoughtthat settlers desirous to introduce their friends should deposit the Crown Grants of their land with the Government. It would be a great thing to get hold of their land aB security for the repayment of advances. He agreed that roads were most important at present, and pointed out the ill effects of injudicious importation of people to Queensland and other colonies. Dr Menzies was surprised at the objections made by the hon. member for Campbelltown. He pointed out that one great advantage of assisted immigration would be that in a passenger ship coming direct to this Province capitalists were sure to arrive. All who came were capital, and contributed to increase the Customs Eevenue, whose fluctuations were a fair criterion of the prosperity of the Province. The hon. member stated he had heard from a reliable authority thatin Southland the dutiesreceived during the past three months had not been exceeded during any equal period for three years past. This was gratifying as proof that we had turned the corner. The Eeport was adopted unanimously. The Speaker announced the resignation by the member for Eosslyn (Mr Johnston) of the office of Chairman of Committees. The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table, and moved the reading of a resolution of the Chamber of Commerce, relate to the closing of the New Eiver. Mr Cuthbertson objected to the document as informal, and stated it should have taken the form of a petition or memorial. The Provincial Treasurer explained that the resolution had been enclosed in a letter to His Honor the Superintendent, and was laid on the table of the House for the information of members before the estimates were considered. Mr Cuthbertson submitted that the course pursued was not in accordance with the respect due to a legislative body — that it was quite out of all parliamentary practice, and scarcely decorous in fact. Mr Armstrong on the part of the Government admitted having been in error, and the matter dropped. The standing orders having been susr pended, the House proceeded with the consideration of reserves on Stewart's Island recommended by the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands. These were agreed to. Mr Pearson explaining that he had taken care not to include land, the property of the natives as marked in Mr

Commissioner Clarke's map. Several notices of motion for the next evening sitting having been settled, the House adjourned.