THE LAND BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81860, 9 October 1906, Page 3

THE LAND BILL.

VIEWS 01" Till'- TWO PARTIES.

Now that tin' eft'cci of the lengthy deliberations of the Lands Committer on the Land Hill has been laid before 111:- House, the question is <>nee more the general subject of cuiw.rsatiim. The d'bate on the second loading has been fixed to commence on Tuesday (10-nigiu) next, and members have been engaged in' tudymg the amendments made by the commitlee and collecting niaii-rial for their, speeches. In the ca-e of these who may (>'-■ termed '-the waveiers" ample ground for cogitation is also afforded bv the problem of deciding winch of tlie two courses should be taken when the time conv:s for them to declare for or agair."t the Bill.

THE LEASEHOLD VIEW

Whilst the leasehold s.ction of the House is bv n> means wholly pleased with the p'li' ent state of the Blil, they are as a body disposed to accept it as going a long way 111 the direction cf their aspirations. They are, of course, far from satisfied with the concession given to the freeholders by permitting Holders of the lcascs-in-per-petuitv to share with the tenants under the proposed 60 years' renewable lease, the option of paying off go per cent of the capital value of their holdings, thereby relieving them'selves from cropping conditions and other restrictions. -■We look upon this amendment, said a prominent leaseholder to-day, -■as the one important blemish of the BiM as it now stands, and under other circumstances we would be prepared to fight it to a conaidei able exlent. As, however, we recognise tnat, apart from tin's and one or two other minor defects, the Bill contains so many good point's, we arc prepared to support it as brought down by the committee." The opinion of this member appears, from whai 1 can gather in the tout so of general conversation, to be shared by the large majority of the leasehold party.

THE FREEHOLD ASPECT

Whatever may be the iviews of the leaseholders as to the concession's given to the freeholders, the latter, it is hardly necessary to state, are by no mean's I atisfied by what they have gained by th'-> fight in the Lands Committee. "That the Bi'l has been improved in some respects must, of couisc, be admitted,'' said a well known freeholder and member of the country party, on being interviewed, "but when all is said and done the Bill is still a leasehold Kill. The concession to the tenants under the yyi) years' leases, important ;.'■ it is in the eyes of leaseholders, cannot satisfy those whose freehold convictions take precedence of party considerations. The Bill is still a leasehold measure. And we will not be satisfied unless the setters are given the opportunity of acquiring the freehold pure and sim-

pie." Notice was given to-day by Mr.

Ross, member for Paluatua, of an amendment to the effect that no Land Bill is satisfactory that does not provide for the option of the freehold ai the original valuation.

COUNTRY PARTY'S ATTITUDE. The attitude of the Country party in regard to theliiil is of course a subject of considerable interest. It has been freely stated during the past day or two that tin re is a cHeimination on the part of several opponents of he Bui to have the measure exhaustively discussed in committee. The names of Messrs. Baume. Rutherford. Wilforcl, Symcs, Major, and others have ben mentioned in this connection. The Country party, with which all thf'-e members are more or less identified, are inclined to be reticent a.5 to their line of action. The executive of the party which consists of Mesrs. Rutherford, Field, Major, Synn 1 -, and Bonnet, held a meeting this evening lo discuss the matter. The resuh has not been officially made public, but 1 understand that it was decided to present a requisition to the Premier, asking that the Bill be not proceeded with Ihis session. Resolution 1 - against tlie Bill are being

pascd by the branches of the Farmers' Union in a'l par.'* of the country, and these, as well as letter-, expressive of the same feeling, ale pouring in upon members daily. oI'ESTIOX OF POSTPONEMENT.

Whilst un the, unc hand it i- urged ihat the postponement of the Bill would be an admission of weakness, it is contended on the other >.A<' that tin' Government would not be justified in pushing through the Uill until the country has had fu'l opportunity of di-cussing it in all its various aspects. The general opinion is that it is next to impossible for the 13iU to be passed this ses-ion The possibility of the House resuming after the opening of the Exhibition f"! the purpose of putting the Bill through is still

spoken of, but some of tin: opponents of the liill declare that it will not pa~s even if nicmbets are kept here,till Christmas. It is stated that members of the Cabinet are not quite un-

ited in their opinions as to the expediency of attempting to pass the Bill this session, and that there is a deposition on the part of one or two Ministers to acknowledge the force of the contention that the country has not vet had a sufficient opportunity of ctn-idering the effect of the new proposals.—New Zealand Ilera'd correspondent,