PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 205, 4 October 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

(PEB PRESS ABSOOUTIOKJ ' : * ■—.: LEGISLATIVE OOUKOIL. Wbdmbsdat, Ootober 3, . The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Criminal Code Act 1893 Amendment Bill, Government Railways Bill, and Slaughtering and Inspection Bill, were read a third time and passed. The Hons. Bowen, Pitt, and Rigg, were appointed to confer with representatives of the Lawer House with re-: gard to the objections made by the latter to the Council's amendments in the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill.

The following Bills were read a firat time: New Zealand Consols Act Amendment Bill, Midland Authorised Area of Land Settlement Bill, Fisheries Encouragement Act Amendment Bill, Rotorua Town Council Bill, and West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill. ' The Hon. W. O. Walker moved the second reading of the Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill.

Hon. McLean spoke strongly of the action of oertain people who were themselves earning good livings and allowing their parents to accept State aid. He considered it a disgrace that the Bill had not prevented the possibility of this.

Hon. Bolt considered a system of. universal pensions should be inaugurated, the recipients contributing a small amount to the fund and the Government subsidising.

Hon. Bonar thought the Government should have brought down better data as to the cost, of the system already in its second year. The system was costing more than double the amount estimated, and he considered'a' great wrong would be done to pensioners and the colony alike if pensions had to be discontinued at a later date. The Government, had also promised that the charitable aid rates would decrease, but in the second year of the system the rates had increased fi-om .£93,070, to £IOB,OOO. , After further debate, Hon. W. O. Walker defended the Government against the Hon, Sonar's allegations, | and said, as a matter of fact, charitable aid had decreased during last year, . The Bill was read a second time. Hon. R. Reeves moved the second reading of the Victoria College Act Amendment Bill. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. EVENING BITTING. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. The debate on the Victoria College was continued. The Minister of Education said it was impossible that the College could be anywhere else than at Wellington to do justice to tbe requirements of a college. The College Council had been misled from starj to finish, and if he (the speaker) had thought the Mount Cook site would be suitable he would have been pleased to help to secure it for them. It would be a distinct misfortune to Wellington if the College was removed.

Hon, Bowen suggested the College should be placed on Mount View, at present occupied by the Wellington Asylum. Hon. Bolt moved that the Bill be read three months henc*.

After a lengthy debate the motion , to read the Bill three months hence was carried by 15 votes to 12. The Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, October 3. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ' The report of the members appointed to confer with the Council on the amendments made by the latter in the Public Health Bill, was agreed to. The Premier gave notice to introduce en Opium Protection Bill. The Premier said that in accordance with the general wishes of the memberg he had cabled to Lord Roberts congratulating him on bis birthday, and had received a reply stating that he and Lady Roberts were pleased at the compliment, and that he would always be proud of having had under his command the brave men sent to South Africa by this colony. The Premier said that some anxiety had been expressed as to what day would be proclaimed as " peace day." It was not possible to say when the present guerilla war would cease, and as the Transvaal and Orange Free State had been annexed there would probably be no formal declaration of peace. The Government had considered the matter, and with a view to giving due notice to tbe eolonv they had fixed the Prince of Wales Birthday, 9th November, as the date for the celebration. I On the motion that the Maori Lands Administration Bill be read a first time, in reply to Mr. Hone Heke, Mr. Seddon said the Bill was an alternate one to that which provides for the absolute vesting of the whole of the native lands in a mixed Board of natives and Europeans. Tbe present Bill would reconcile the two conflicting parties, as the present state of affairs was detrimental alike to natives and Europeans. So much conflict of opinion prevailed upon the subject tbat he was tired of it, und would submit tbe matter to the gcod sense of the majority of the House. Mr. A. L. D. Frassr said the Bill would not prove satisfactory, and advised the Government to leavo native ' legislation alone this session. ]

Mr. Oarroll said that.personally he favoured the absolu'e vesting of the lands in a Board as being <hq best policy. After long years of experiment, he thought it time tint tho adi ministration of the lands should be left to the natives themselves, and that alienation of such land should ba stopped.

Mr. Napier said ho would resolutely | oppose any attempt to set up % system*': of Maori landlordism as propo* d in the Bill. The Europem population had to be considered in the matter. Natives should not bo treated as children, as they were, ho contended, quite capable of looking after their own interests as far as dealing with the land was concerned.

; Mr. E. Thompson said the only way of dealing with native lands was for the Government to purchase them, on im QA\t,fQi: the purpose.

of settlement, and place the money in the hands of the Trustee for disposal [amongst the owners, Captain Russell had always conj tended that the only way of dealing I with the native land question was'to individualise titles and place each man on his own section withoutiibwer to alienate, bo that they might; not become a burden upon the State.' .The question was of great and colonial importance, and he objected to it& being set down for consideration "In" -the dyin? hours of the session. Mr. Herries believed that if it cost the Government .£IOO,OOO to survey the native lands and individualise the titles it would pay, the colony and offer great indacement to the natives to cultivate theirrland..

Mr. Carroll believed that ultimately the Maoris should be.placed upon exactly the' same footing as Europeans, not only as regard* land, but with jrespect tc-all other matters.- But they had to legislate for the present position of the not'fir what might !be best for them years hence. . '< The Bill was read a first time. The Representation Act Amendment Bill was introduced by the Governor's message. ;

-f, On.the motion that it be'reid'a first time, Captain Russell thought the Bill should not be introduced at this stage ofthesession. With extension bounds of the colony to the South Sea Islands, to which we were now committed, provision would have to be made for the representation of these Islands in the House. The number of members should be increased, but the Bill did not go far enough 'in. proposing only six. Besides, the time was close when, by law, there would be a re-adjustment of the'boundaries of'^electorates. The Premier said that' he understood m'embers advocated that if there was an increase in the number of Ministers there should also be an increase in the number of members; and, but for that expression of feeling, he would not have touched theßill, '?.

The Bill was read a first time. Mr. Seddon,' s in. moving ''that the Land for Settlements Consolidation Bill be committed, said the 'Bill was a consolidation measure, and provided for certain defects in -the principal • Act. [ Messrs. R. Thompson and McNab [questioned the wisdom of allowing a 'rebate on rent of ten per cent, for prompt payment. The latter said there [were bound to became losses',*and any I profits made should be set apart to [meet such losses.

Mr. Bollard referred to the inequalities that existed in the rentals charged, and hoped Ministers would endeavour to effect an adjustment. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Steward resumed the debate on the motion to commit the Land for i Settlement Consolidation Bill. He referred to the proposal to remit 10 per cent rent upon prompt payment, contending that in some cases the tenant would make an exceedingly good bargain in acquiring some sections on account of his interest being a valuible one. He advocated that selectors should be allowed a rebate, not on one halfyear's rent only, but upon as many half-years' rent as ho chose to pay in advance. He urged that, as a compliment to the Bill, the Government should endeavour to pass a Pair Rent Bill.

Mr. McLachlan considered it was an unjust thing to give a man who could afford to pay rent promptly a rebate of 10 per cent. The Act was working well, and thera was no necessity for introducing new features. Mr. Collins said the colony could not, and there was no reason why it should, make such a large concession to selectors who had never asked for it.

The rebate was simply a bribe to thoso settlers who were likely to fall into arrears through having poor sections, to pay promptly. He urged that there should be a re-valuation of land at stated periods.

Mr. H»gg was disappointed at some of the new features of the Bill, and oontended that those who had taken iip land under the present kw should have the option of changing their tenure of land; also that thera should be periodical revaluation of land. He complained that the provision in the original Act, whereby a selector could get advances for fencing, etc., did not appear inthis Bill, and that advances would only be made for workmen's houses.

Mr. G. Vv\ Russell did not think, considering the large amount of money which had been invested undor the Act, that the result had not been satisfactory ; nor that it was a matter for congratulation that only 24 settlers wore i placed upon an acquired estate at a 'cost of .£3200 each, I

Mr. Mills said the price of money had considerably decreased since the Act came into foroe; therefore Eeleci tors should reap the advantage in the way of reduction of rent on prompt payment.

Mr. Ell advocated that land should [be acquired in the vicinity of large centres for enabling farm labourers to take it up in small sections at a less rental than seventy to ninety shillings an acre.

Mr. T. Mackenzie pointed out that one million and a half had been barrowed for the purchase of laud, and not a single penny had been set to redeem that sum. If a reversal of the success of our produaa market wero to set in, the value of our lands would proportionately decrease; therefore it behoved the House to make proviion against such a contingency. Mr. Hornsby defended a rebate on prompt paym&n> of rent, and cons'dered the principle ought to be extended to settlers in (he back blocks. As to tenure of land, be would be quite agreeable to revert to ;he freehold system on condition that all statutory improvements were carried out, aud that the owner could only mortage to the S l ato. • _ Mr. Fowlds considered that no objection could be raised to a rebate of 10 per eont. if a Fair Kent Bill had been in operation, but under present conditions he would oppose the rebate proposal. To reduce rent could no more be defended than a proposal to increase rent.

Mr. Meredith said that, as far as ho could ascertain, thero was no gonoral demand among Crown tenants for tho .freehold tenure, JJo contended that if

there was to be a rebate it; should apply to all Crown tenants.

Mr. Pirani advocated a re-valuation i .of leases. If areas were restricted, he believed the freehold system was best. He condemned the system of ballot, and urged, instead, a processof selection jot tenants. I I [r*ft Sitting.] !