Parliament.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7914, 1 September 1905, Page 2

Parliament.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 81. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p m 'I he Taranaki Scholarships ' nil) passed its final stages. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE* The House mot at 2.38 p m In reply to Mr Taylor, M,- Seddon said he did not intend to take the discussion on the Auditor-General's report on the voucher inncident until the debate on the land question was disposed of. The greater part oi the afternoon i was occupied, in discussing Ministerial ivpliis to questions. EVENING SITTING. Tin; House resumed at 7.!I0. In moving his Land resolutions, Mr Seddon indicated that he did not propose to treat Mi- Massey's amendment ns a want of confidence mo ti'ii. He said Mr Massey was dragging the House inlo an alteratory of Hie land laws, and the result would be an increase in the graduated land tax. "Where," he asked, "were the Crown tenants going to get the seven millions of money re quired to purchase their holdings?" Mr Massey had every moneylender in the colony behind him in making that proposal. As to Mr Massev'a amendment, that would not place any of his supporters in a false position. They must do as they thought best in the interests of the colony and their constituents.

Mr Massey, moved the following amendment :—"The Government having received the report of the Conn mission appointed to inquire into the best form of land tenure for the colony, and gaving failed to formulate any land policy which will grant to tenants of the Crown the right to acquire the freehold of their farms on equitable, terms, thereby forfeits the confidence of this House." Mr Massey went on to say that the position taken up by the Premier was the most miserable one ho had ever seen taken up by a man in his position. The resolutions were those of a miserable opportunist and a man of no political principles. The Crown tenants, he declared, wcro perfectly willing t<. pay a graduated tax if they got the freehold. Mr Duncan said he was not in favour of giving the option of tht freehold to settlers under the Land for Settlement Act.