THE LAND BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81863, 12 October 1906, Page 2

THE LAND BILL.

MINISTERIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

P OSTPONEMENT TILL NEXTSESSION.

Per I'kess Association. Wellington, October n. In the House this afternoon, the ; Hon. the Premier said that during , his speech on Uie second reading ol j the Land Bill he had intimated thai the Government intended to put the , Bill through before, the Exhibition, if the House would assist ihem. Since that statement representations had been made to the Government by lion, members who favoured the Dili, that they thought it best to consult their constituents and that the Bill be considered during the recess by the country. In the light of this lie deemed it his duty to inform the House -hat he considered the request reasonable. There would not be time to put the Bill through by the 30th of the current month. The second reading' debate would not take less •han 14 days, which would bring them .0 the end of the month. As the Land Committee had not sent the liiii back to the House under four iveeks, it Was evident that the House •vould take much longer. The quesion, therefore, arose whether, as an tlternalive, it would not be well to Set Ihe House 'to return late, and i'nish the Bill before Christmas? The session began very laic this year, and i would be needless for him to disguise the fact that ihere is no po*sijility of getting the Bill through beore the 29th October, or that a large lumber of members are very much tverse to a late session. He had loped that lion, members would have jeen inclined by the liberality of the lieasure to help to put it through, lut it was not possible to cont nue n that hope after the representations hat had been made to him. The Government had come to the conclusion, herefore, that it would be better to übmit the Bill lo the country during' lie recess. He felt confident that a ull explanation by Ministers and ttcmbers and full consideration on he part of the country would result 11 the general acceptance of the meaure. He had certainly hoped that he alterations made in the Bill by he Lands Commitiee would have fa:ilitated the passage of the measure, >ut that hope had proved vain. Comnon sense had made the Government ealise that in the face of the number ■f Ihe members who wanted to speak :nd the other difficulties, the better ourse was the postponement of the Jill. The Government wer« not reinquishing' their determination to put n the Statute Book this measure for lie much-needed reform ol the land aws, and hoped the House would unlersiand that he would on Tuesday icxt lake an opportunity of announcng- what Bills the Government proiosed to go on with. The Public \otks Statement would be clown soon fter, and the Government hoped to mish the session by Saturday, Oc'oer 27th, or by the following- Monday t tlw latest.

Mr Massey expressed his surprise at the Ministerial announcement, lie would not express any opinion on the course adopted, except that the responsibility must rest on the Government of any courso they may choose to adopt.

EXPLANATION BY MR.

McNAB.

Wellington, October 11

The Hon. McNab, Minister for Lands, addressing a meeting at the Lower Hutt to-night, said had the Government endeavoured to force the Land Bill on the Statute Book, he believed it could have been done, but this was the position: Had they gone on with the Bill, and attempted to pu; it through, they would have carried With them throughout the whole couise the hostility of a large section ot the people, w'ho, if they understood the proposals and their operation, would have ended by suppcriitig tliem. In view of this and of (he necessity there would be of bringing members back bite in November, it became patent that the best course was to session. It was the in'entiun uf the Government to take advantage of every opportunity they had of travelling from one end of the colony to the other during the recess, explaining the Bill and replying Lo Questions,