PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. , Sir Frauds Bell introduced the Industrial and Provident Societies Amendment Bill, giving companies power to transform themselves into societies under the Act. The Bill was read a second time, and progress was reported from the committee, permission being asked to sit again. The Electric Power Works Loan Bill and the Railways Authorisation Bill were put through their final stages and passed.

The Council adjourned until 8 p.m. out of respect to tiie lute Mr. .1. Colvin (member for Buller, who was killed on Wednesday), with whose relations the utmost sympathy was expressed by Sir Francis Bell and other speakers. When the Council met in the evening the Mining Amendment Bill was committed.

Sir Francis Bell said a new clause would be prepared in committee to the effect that a warden might decree a fine instead of a forfeiture of water privilege if, in his opinion, it was in the public interest to do so, and was just and equitable. The Hon. G, M. Thomson said ono company protested that it could not obtain axial feed water drills in the time required by the Bill. Sir Francis Bell said that they had evidence that drills could be obtained, but lie would postpone the clause in order that members might satisfy themselves on this point. The new clause was also postponed, and progress was reported on the Bill. Local Bills received from the House were read a first time and referred to committees. The Council resolved to insist on its amendments in the Hawke's Bay Rivers Bill. The Council adjourned at 9:20 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The.House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. MeComb3 gave notice of his intention to introduce the Industrial Disputes Settlement Bill. j REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr. Nash, who asked if anything was being done to remove the embargo on the export of hides and skins, Mr. Massey said that the question was becoming extremely complicated, more so than most members supposed. After the close of the session he proposed to j look into the matter for himself with a I view to bringing about an improvement. Replying to Mr. P. Fraser, who asked a series of questions, Mr. Massey said he was prepared to carry out the suggestion made by him some time ago to provide an- impartial chairman, for any confer- j ence that could be arranged between the I coal owners and the coal miners on the subject of imported coal. He admitted we had a to pay very high prices, because we had to keep industries going. As to the legal question whether the ship owners committed a breach of the law in locking out the waterside worker* , yesterday, he was not aware that any breach of the law had been committed, but he would refer the question to the Solicitor-General. He was most anxious to see a settlement of the differences between the miners and the mine owners. He did not blame the rank and file of the miners for what was going on, but he did blame their leaders. THE EVENING SESSION. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The following Local Bills were put through all stages and passed:—The Victory Park Bill (Dr. Thacker), the Whangarei Harbor Board Vesting and Empowering Bill (Mr. Mander), the Gisborne Harbor Board Enabling Bill (Sir Jas. Carroll), the Wellington Citv Milk Supply Bill (Mr. Wright), and the Palmerston North Abbatoirs Bill (Mr. Nash). The Native Laws Washing Up Bill was introduced by Governor's message, read a first time, and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. LAND LAWS. The. debate on the second reading of the Land Laws Amendment Bill was resumed by Mr. Wilford, who complained that the measure would not, in its present state, cause land to be put to more productive use, or deal adequately with aggregation. The area of holdings should be limited according to quality. Government acquisition for' s,oldiers or other settlement should be 'expedited and purchases made where decided upon before March next, so as avoid paying owners a self assessed valuation that could be demanded after March.

Mr. Young urged a modification of the restrictions which, in certain cases, pressed unduly on settlers, instancing the case of a man whose twb sons were dead, one having been killed at the war. The father was now unable to carry on, yet, because his section of 152 acres exceeded £4OOO in value, he could not dispose of it under his particular tenure. Mr. Jennings quoted cases of what he described as\ aggregation in the King Country and Taranaki. In one case aggregation had already occurred where the land had been settled by returned soldiers.

Mr. Anstey considered the Bill failed completely to meet the need for opening up sufficient lands to settle soldiers and others waiting to become farmers. He objected to what was called unimproved land being given away. Touching on the Government's claim to have put large numbers of settlers on the land, Mr. Anstey quoted figures for the South Island showing that, though 64 soldiers were placed on the lands, the actual nummer of holdings decreased by 3li during the 1917-18 period. Gradual taxation must be made more effective to prevent aggregation. Mr. Parr approved the provision in section 10, under which a chance was given to bring the so-called poor lands of North Auckland into a productive condition. Generous provision to give financial assistance to would-be settlers should produce good results by bringing what were now waste, worked-out gum areas into occupied farming lands. Mr. Mander supported the Bill as one that would bring joy to the people in North Auckland.

Mr. Ell declared the Bill was too elastic to cope with aggregation. Land boards should have power of veto on applications from those already owning (large areas. He believed land boards should have discretion to allow larger areas. He held that, where the quality was very poor, arbitrary limitation might in some cases inflict considerable .hardship.

Mr. Holland considered the provisions in the Bill dealing with North Auckland lands would jrcate now problems. The Government should have seized the opportunity to inaugurate a scheme of land treatment and organisation of industry. The Minister, in reply to criticisms, explained that the proposed homestead system would result in the settling-.of some lands at present unproductive. An honest attempt was being made to deal with aggregation, and if its provisions therefor were found ineffective, further steps would .be taken. The Government wanted to give relief where possible in cases -pressing hardly' on beneficiaries. So long as concessions were granted it did not conduce to aggregation by families if the value of the land permitted to be held wag increased to £OOOO. Undei section 10 no man could sell without the Government's consent, and in the ease of purchase by the Government a selector would be paid the full value he put upon it by his own efforts.

The Bill was read a second tinj**. In committee on clause 10, sub-section 5, Mr. Witty objected to a selector being prevented from transferring_his licanse. If he must surrender he should receive the value of his unearned increment,

The Minister said the outgoing tenant received the value of his improvement from the incoming tenant. He had been advised the suggested provision was not needed.

Mr. Witty said this matter dealt with a new scheme for settling poor lands, and a licensee who had to surrender his section should get the value of the work he had done thereon.

The Minister agreed to provide a safeguard on the lines suggested. Mr. Parr said if the consent of the Minister was made a condition a precedent to transfer it would meet the case.

'Die Minister agreed t*> accept this suggestion. He also agreed to extend to five years the. period wherein returned soldiers may acquire the fee simple, The committee then proceeded to consider the clauses in the Bill designed to stop aggregation. Clause 19 in the Bill was struck out, and the Minister proposed a new cluase providing that any ' aggregated land talccn by the Crown shall he paid in the manner provided by the Public Workß Act, 1908, but such compensation shall not exceed the valuation as herein defined, with an additional ten per centum, and together also with the valuo of all improvements effected on the land since the date of its acquisition by way of aggregation.

Mr. Pearen contended this would he unfair in different districts, as the" Government valuation in one district might he recent, in which case the owner would receive fair Value for land, but .in another district the valuation might be six or seven years old, in which case a price too low would be paid. . He suggested an amendment as follows: "Provided such valuation be made within one year of such land being acquired by the Government." The Minister said if he would make it two years he would accept it.

Mr. Anderson said he understood the idea of the clause was to punish aggregation. If the clause were so amended it would only encourage it. Mr. Witty protested against paying ten per cent ih addition to the valuation, as tending to enrich the aggregator at the expense of the incoming tenant.

Mr Anstey declared that the only fair way to arrive at a valuation was hy arbitration.

After a lengthy discussion a division was taken, when the amendment was lost by 16 to 33.

The Minitser then moved that the valuation he within two years of the land being acquired by the Government. Messrs. Anderson and Holland protested against this concession to aggregators, hut on a division it was agreed to by 28 to 19, and the clause as amended was passed.

The Minister then moved a further amendment making the Act nonrretrospective.

Mr Anderson said they set out to stop aggregation, but every amendment proposed was only making it easier. Mr. Buddo described the clause.as a white-washing clause. Mr. Massey said thev could not punish a crime committed before the Act was passed. ' x ' Mr. Veitcli said that was done when military defaulters were deprived of civil rights, and the Premier .was .an ardent supporter of that. He warned the Government that the people were in earnest about stopping aggregation, while the Government was," playing with it, Mr Massey advised the House not to pass retrospective legislation except in extreme cases. The Government had ample power to take land aggregated before the passinsr of this Bill. Sir Joseph Ward said, in that case, the holder got the increased priee. Mr. Massey combatted this. He did not think any aggregator would make a big profit. On a division the amendmnet was lost bv 23 to 22. A nev: clause (2(1) making modifications in the restrictions as to' acquisition of land under the Land Settlement Fnrtnoe Act was asreed to. The Bill was then reported with amendments and read a third time. SECOND READING. Mr. Massey moved the second reading ] of the Maori Representation Bill, which he explained meant that the Maori elections were to be held as heretofore without a roll. , . The Statutes Repeal and Expiring Laws • Continuance Bill, which the Premier described as an old friend, Which perpetuated some war measures and repealed others, was read a second tiino. SHEARERS' ACCOMMODATION. Mr- Massey also moved the second reading of the Shearers' Accommodation Amendment Bill. He said the Bill had givtfh the Labor Department a great deal of earnest thought. If the Bill was referred to the Labor Bills Committee it meant the Bill would probably be lost this year. Mr. Veitch said the Bill was an Improvement on the existing legislation, hut everything would.depend on its administration. He suggested giving greater powers to officers .of shearers' unions. Such a principle was already admitted on the water front and in the minesSir Joseph Ward asked if it was in. > tende'i to make the Bill effective this year. Mr. Massey replied that some of rite conditions could not be made effective this year, but nine out of ten could. Mr. Holland said there should be some limitation of time. He suggested the end of 1920. Mr. P. Fraser suggested there should be bathing accommodation, which was not provided in the Bill. The House then went into committee •nd £M»ad without am«ndm«nt the-