PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 980, 20 July 1882, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Mondays’ Sitting. Mr Pyke resumed the debate on the Land Bill. He complimented Me Rolleston on the excellency of the measure. The Bill was in accordance with modern thought, though no legislature had ever attempted to give it effect. Its principle is that land was and must remain the property of the State, The Bill would enable people to settle on the land without impoverishing themselvfi with the purchase money. To sell land was not the way to raise the revenue but to destroy it. The patrimony of the State had been flung to the winds when sold, and large estates had accumulated in consequence. The sale of pastoral leases at £70,000 in Otage shewed that people would take up land on leasehold. He preferred the State to the money-lender as a landlord. The Bill would be a death blow to landsharks. Messrs Hursthouse and Fergus agreed with the provisions of the Bill, Mr Weston condemned the'Bill, and said that unless Government brought down their real policy at once he would be one to put men in their place who would go on with the business of the country in a businesslike manner. Mr Duncan opposed the Bill, and said if a class of crown tenants were estal • lished there would be such a land agitation as there was in Ireland. Messrs Levin and Hobbs supported the Bill, and Messrs Levestam and Feldwick opposed it. The House adjourned. Tuesday’s Sitting. The Eight Hours Labor Bill wa§ thrown out in the Upper House by 17 to 9. After several questions had been answered, Colonel Trimble resumed the debate on the Land Bill. There were only GOO defaulters among 10,000 deferred payment settlers, and all the complaints came from one part of the colony. He quoted Indian experience to show the value of the leasing system. The Bill was one which would do good. Messrs Hutchison and Peacock supported the Bill. Mr Shepherd said it was unsound, unworkable, and would never pass. Mr Stevens and Mr Shrimski warmly supported the Bill. Mr Turnbull thought the fate of the Bill had been settled by the speeches of Sir John Hall and Mr Weston; He condemned the Bill. Mr Bracken moved the adjournment of the debate.