PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 997, 29 August 1882, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATITES. Friday’s Sitting. Replying to Mr Holmes, Major Atkinson said the caveat standing in the Land Registry office; at Napier against the transfer of the Omaranui block would,.if the parties interested took no further action, be shortly removed.

Mr Sutton moved the adjournment ■ of the House to enable him to make a person*! explanation in regard to this block. He produced the official documents in a Supreme Court action in which he was implicated in connection with the acquisition of that land, which fully acquitted him of undue means in obtaining the signatures of the natives to the deed of transfer. Mr Seddon said it would be interesting to know when the Government determined to withdraw the caveat. Was it not co-relative with the late no-con-fidence debate, and was it not determined in view of Mr Sutton’s vote on that motion ? Colonel Trimble said that the whole • transaction had . been carefully enquired into by the Native Affairs Committee, and he, as Chairman of that Committee, had no hesitation in saying that Mr Sutton’s conduct had been blameless, and their findings fully acquitted him of the grave insinuation* made against him in connection with the transaction. Mr Rolleston said provision would be made for satisfying volunteers’ claims. Mr Dick moved—‘‘That the Council’s amendment in the Aliens Act Amendment Bill enabling the Chinese to become naturalised at the reduced rate 5 should not be agreed to.” The Chinese, unlike other nationalities, did not come here to settle. They came here under “ gaffers,” and having worked for a few years they returned to their own land. He named a Committee to confer with > the Council’s Committee on the subject. ~. The Natives Reserves Bill was passed.' . Considerable opposition was offered - to the motion for committing the Land Bill, but ultimately it was carried on the voices. : In Committee, Mr Fulton moved to ’ limit the leasing operations of the Bill to goldfields. Messrs Seddon and Weston objected f; .tospecial legislation for goldfields . ‘ ‘ Sir John Hall spoke against the Bill,| ’ ; on the ground that it would discourages immigration and prove mischievous, and; Mr Moss proposed to strike out the! leasing proposals altogether. | • fcir George Grey said it would in-: ; crease immigration. The rent paid ' would reduce taxation. The tendency-: of the age was to abolish freeholds alto-i gether. Freeholds could not be more! advantageous than leaseholds on the: terms proposed. There was to be no r ’ increase of rent and no sub-letting. To prevent the scenes of misery enacted in the Old Country he wculd ask’thera to affirm the leasehold principle. He' moved that the whole area bo brought ( under the leasehold principle. . j Mr Fulton’s motion was lost on the voices, and Mr Moss’s amendment striking out the leasing proposals altotogether was lost on a division of 44 to: 16 votes. U* A proviso was inserted giving to , -holders of a lease power to purchase ( after seven years at valuation. . i After a large, number of amendments' 5 were moved, including one to do away , with public auctions in selling Crown r Lands, the Bill was slightly amended and reported. The House rose at 4.30 a.m.