PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 258, 7 December 1909, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

MONDAV, DECEMBER d. j j LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Assooiatioa, Wellington, La«t Night. The Cuuneil met 1111 a afternoon, unl agreed to the rejiort of the Petition* Committee recommending the petition of Major W. J. Mair for compensation for services rendered the Slate to the favorable consideration of I lie (iovernnient. No other business mis available. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

LAND LAWS AMENDMENT HILL. In the House tins afternoon, Mf. ] Wright resumed the interrupted debate on The report of the committee on 'i ! '' Land Utws Amendment llili, which the chairman moved should lie on *s.e table, and Mr. Hemes moved as an amendment that the minutes of the p>''--"cilings of the committee lie laid on the 1 table.'-

Mr, Wright said he was unable from the Premier's speeches to say whether Sir "Joseph Ward was u leaseholder ii a freeholder. The police of the admin'*trntion 011 tlie land question meant tli. downfall of the party. It meant' Iht | negation of democracy, of liberalism, and of principle. The (Jovernmpnt's po licy was purely an opportunist one, busled on retention of office at any pries. He hoped the Government would abandon thei r Land Bill. Mr. Taylor (Christehurch) said rural lands had increased enormously in value, not only as the results of owners' efforts, but as the result of the labors of the community. -Referring to Mr. McKenzie'g position in the Cabinet, jw said that the Minister had driven the wedge into the Liberal (Jarlv at Hanu'itikci. What authority had Mr. MeKmzie, he asked, to speak for the Cabinet in offering the freehold, and thus giving the Liberal policy away? Perhaps l'ie time would come when the national endowments would be given away, not to save the Liberal il'artv, but to preserve the Cabinet. This Land Hill, this abortion, this thing without shape or form, had, said Mr. Taylor, been conceived by the Government in secret, and when it came tottering into the House members were supposed to accept it without question. The democratic sentiment of the country on the land question, which ought-to be the line of demarcation between the parties, had\been betrayed. The Liberal Party had no policy, 11 r leader. The Government was too weali to lead, and the press was pilsicd, and it was in vain to lonl; 1» ii for h-ln. Mr. Guthrie, sneaKlng 01 his altitulc in committee, slid he was proud of hiving the f'Tliold clause-; retained. 'Th>re were 54 freeholders in the House, which was a clear indication that Ihe majority of (lie electors ilemamle l Ihe freehold. '"';e iTovcrnnioit hid only carried nil its declared poljcy, which was to find out what the people want, and give it to lliem. Mr. Arnold defended Mr. Guthrie's action in committee on the Hill, as tho

latter was a declared freeholder. There were five leaseholders and fiv;. frcehoUere on the committee, so that a casting vote was necessary to retain the clauses if the whole of the members were present. He believed that at the second meeting a leasehold member who had at I he first meeting voted against the freehold clauses, reversed bis vote, with thf result that the clauses were reinstall. Tlic Government would have apparently 110 hesitation in forcing the Land liill through the IIons» with the Opposition votes, but would regard the action of the leasehold supporters in voting with ■the Opposition at any time as the greatest political crime that could lie committed.

The Hon. J. Millar said he was amused at the charges made against liini of abandoning his principles. These had not changed. There was nothing in Hie Bill to abolish the leasehold tenure, ind it apneared to him the time of t\e House was being wasted for the salce of 4417 I/ind for Settlement tenants. Tiie Government secured the unearned increment under the freehold clauses of the Bill to the extent of one-fifth of the increase in value every 33 veiiis. Speakllig for himself, he was quite prepared to go to the cowntrv and get the question settled, the better as far .v the present cabinet was concerned. '1 lie 0,000.000 acres endowment would he retained.

The debate was adjourned until tomorrow afternoon, and the House rose. In the House In the evening, (ho Shipping gnit Seamen's Bill was pul through its final stages. LANDS FOR SETTLEMA f ADMINISTRATION HILI.. *

The Premier moved the second reading of tlie Land* lor Settlement Administration Bill to amend the law relating to the acquisition and administration (i lands for settlement. He explained at length the principal clauses of the Hill as they relate to finance, lands administration, limitation of areas, and modi. Mention of the Workers' Dwellings Art and the alteration in the Valuation Roils Bill. He pointed out, inter alia, that it repealed section 52 of the principal Act, and provided that successful applicants in ballots under the Act who dispose of their land shall lie disqualified from' taking part in further ballots for live years, and successful applicants for rural lands would be required to reside continuously on allotments for i"n years,

Mr. Massey said the Bill evidently contemplated the passing of the State Guaranteed Advances Bill, and would not seriously interfere with the Lands for Settlement Act. He hoped when the Bill was in committee provision would be made for men of energy with snvill capital to settle on limited areas of land. He had expected that some attempt would be made to improve the methods of the Lands for Settlement scheme in the direction of granting the freehold to settlers in regard to reduced limitation of areas allowed to bo held, Mr, Massey saul this ought to be based on the size of a man's family, each case being treated on its merits. The provision for compulsory taking of land within a 15-mile radius of towns h.ivj"S a population of 5000 would oper.ito harmfully on farmers near towns and create a feeling of unrest. The Bill ivas mostly a committee Bill, and lie would deal with it when it reached the comnntteo stage. Mr. Allen said that the Bill meant altering the nature of the security f..,r oans, and asked, was the Prime Minister panning our freehold estate to the London financiers? There was no provision for native lands in the Bill, thougli the amount to be borrowed hid been increased from Half a million to one million for the purpose of applying the provisions of the Act to native lands. The compulsory clauses in relation to suburban land were too drastic. Mr. Hogg strongly opposed the clause inking land around the boroughs, as this would act prejudicially on small farni-

After much further delmte, Sir Jo*.,,], Ward replied, and said the fears about the small farmers in the neighborhood of boroughs was unfounded. Tho Government had never taken land from small farmers, and ho would not nave the slightest objection to striking out he word "compulsory." He had the most absolute contempt for men who posed as the workers* friends, vet whon n Hill was brought down to help thini to get homes they opposed it. Sir Joseph Ward was etill speakm* nt midnight. ®

WITX THERE BE AN" AUTUMN' SESSION? No indication has been given out as to the order of business this week (mvr yesterday s Dominion): Bills whieli will probably be Anally disposed of withoit delay are the Hospitals Bill and the °'"PP'?R "id Seamen Bill. Owine lo Mr. Sidcy'a amendment in the State Uiaranteed Loans Advances Bill that measure seems to be hung up. WiTt the session finally olosp i„,f ire Christmas? If the Government i s dcermined to' put through the whole of programme It seems evident that it Most of the members vi with disfavor the proposal to hold an iiltumn session. The probability are that the Government will drop portion >f its ■profrramme with a view to an wrly closing of Parliament. In view of the alTTtmle of the leas*loldm Che Land Bill has little chance >f becoming law this year. Necotialons, It is stated, are no«- proceeding letwcen the Prime Minister and tbe ea Beholder*, in order, if possible | 0 nr. ftt a compromise. Very little is now heard in the lobbies n the question of licensing iccordine to the Prime Minister a Bin' n the subject has little chance of i?, unless t"he partfeS first eome to an prree to the alteration which the \'o. icense party desire to make in the comnet which was recently made seem* al'ill hj"« » it S °' ,h " nrn '»i' ,> il J m is not likely to come down iM, f ear. • (