PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 57, 31 October 1912, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1912. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association. ) Wellington, October 30. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. LAND LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. The Lands Committee reported on the Land Laws Amendment Bill, recommending that it he proceeded with, with certain amendments. Mr Bell explained that the amendments by the committee were merely formal. He moved the committal ot the Bill, and proceeded to explain its provisions and the objects sought tc be attained thereby. Mr Ormond contended that the Bill would be ah absolute failure to deal in any way satisfactorily with the great question of settlement. Ho held that the subdivision proposals would be inoperative, for he had been unable to See what benefit an ownci could gain from them. The native proposals also would not do a gi'car deal. The Maori had a great idea of sticking to his land, and the temptations held out by the Bill to induce him to hand it over to the Government would not be sufficient. Other provisions would have to be made. He agreed that nothing should stand in the way of genuine settlement. The promise made to Sir Joseph Ward by the Hawke’s Bay owners of large estates to subdivide and dispose ol their land had been carried out. The only districts where large acreages were available were between Napier and Tauranga, and between the railhead beyond Stratford and the King Country, in the North of Auckland, and in the Waikato district. He asked the Government to consider the question of native land, 'They could obtain 3,000,000 acres over the North Island, after leaving the natives what land they needed; and this opened up great possibilities. This would not interfere with the financial operation; of the country 7, for he had always held that the debenture system should be adopted. The debate then adjourned, and the Council rose.

The Council resumed at 8 p.m. Tire debate on the Land Bill was continued by 7 Mr Anstey, jvho said that the Bill contained a clause dealing with the security of tenure for Lease-in-Perpetuity settlers. Ho had moved in this direction some years ago, and had been laughed at, but now hi; views were being endorsed. The first care of the Government should not lx towards ownership, but as to what it the best form of hire for land to ensure the greatest possible production. Owners’ rights should not be allowed to override the rights of occupiers oi land. The Government’s first care should be to frame land laws on r. sound and just principle; next to encourage men on the land to obtain the fullest measures of production, and

thirdly to cause the large estates to

be broken up to enable those willing to go on the land to get on the land. Many public leases were a disgrace to the Government of the country, and did not tend towards encouraging productiveness. That clause of the 13:11 dealing with preference gave preference to landless people with families, but true preference would be to givt one chance at the ballot each to a man, his wife and to each child. Continuing, the Hon, Anstey said that the passing- of this Bill would seriously prejudice the titles of every holder of a lcase-in-pcrpetuity. The Hon. Paul said that the Bill war revolutionising the land, policy of the last twenty 7 y 7 ears. It was remedying many errors, but at the same time it was removing many benefits. As regards the L.I.P. tenants, they had prospered under the present conditions, and he thought there would be no benefit to them to be given the right ol purchase. The Bill opened up op portunities of land speculation. The Hon. Mills said that as regards Native lands, he was strongly of the opinion that Europeans and Natives should be under the same limitations and enjoy, the same benefits. The Hon. Bell, in bis reply, agreed to the desirability of settling the land, but let them first see what they could do without adding millions to the country’s indebtedness. As regards the money advanced to the natives, that was not for the purchase by tin, Government, hut simply to advance to the Natives one-third on account o! the purchase by the settlers ol thcii land. The Bill was committed, and aftci a short title, Mr Bell moved to repori progress. The Council rose at 11.15 p.m.'

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.in. I The Prime Minister, replying to Sii A. Guinness, said that enquiries an being made as to the position of the widows and orphans of miners who had lost their lives in the Mount Lyell disaster, and, if necessary, a vote will he placed on the Supplementary Estimates for their relief. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE ENQUIRY. Mr Herdman, replying to Mr E.s cott, said that, in accordance with the promise made, the Government will arrange to hold an enquiry into the affairs of the Public Trust Office as soon as the session was over. LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES. The Public Accounts Committee wa? granted an extension of time in winch to report on the allocation of 'oms under the Loans to Local Bodies Art. The extension takes the date to Tuesday next. HASTENING THE END. Mr MacDonald urged the disbanding of select committees, and sitting in the mornings to finish up the legislation which the Government intended to put through this session. BILLS PASSED. The Kaiapni Reserve Bill, and the

East Const Native Trust Lands AimmomcMit Jiill wore read a third time and passed. RAILWAYS AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion to agree to the amendments made to the Government Railways Amendment Bill, Mr Islet moved an amendment lecommendiog that the increase in pay for the first division should take effect immediately, instead of on April 1, 191-3. Mr Anderson said the carrying of the amendment would kill the Bill. The amendment was lost by -10 to 20 votes. The House then adjourned. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The discussion on the third reading of the Railway Bill was continued byMr Poland, who moved an amendment to recommit the Bill for the purpose of inserting a clause providing for the carrying of children under 5 years of ago free of charge. The amendment was lost by 37 to 30, and the Railway Bill was then read a third time, and passed. VARIOUS MATTERS. The amendments to the Defence Bill, dealing with drill halls, were brought down by Governor’s Message, and agreed to. The Public Revenues Bill was reported from the committee unamended. The Savings Banks Amendment Bill was reported from committee with a new clause by the Minister of Finance, enabling the bank to invest ninetenths of its total funds. The Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill and the Cemeteries Amendment Bill were reported with minor amendments. The Marriage Amendment Bill was passed through committee unamended. The Aged and Infirm Persons Protection Bill was reported' with an amend ujent providing that any person addicted to excessive use of stimulants may he made the subject of a protection order. The Bills which passed the committee stages early in the evening were finally passed, and the House rose at 12.20 p.m.