HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4274, 12 September 1882, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday, The House resumed at 7,30. THE iAND BIH. Mr Kolleston reported . that the managers appointed to conduct the conference between the two Houses re Land Bill had failed in arriving at a satisfactory solution of the difficulty. The point upon which they disagreed was the clause providing that the leaseholder might change his lease into, a freehold; that was a point .which the managers for this House found they could not yield. They held that the House had established the principle of leasehold in their future dealings with these lands, and that they would not be

justified in yielding the point. On the other side, a, similar stand was taken. They considered that in yielding the point they would be practically incorporating in a different form the already established principles of agricultural leasing and deferred payment. The arguments put forward on the other side were based upon the fact that the people had not, so far as the Council was aware, had an opportunity of forming a judgment as to the effect or advisability of the proposed change in tenure ; they therefore, contended that the step should not be taken hastily, or until the public had had an opportunity for forming their opinion upon the point. After a lengthened discussion, the conference came to the. conclusion that in respect to goldfields land and educational reserve there was no real difference between them. The conference yielded to the extent of erasing them. The leasiug clauses would therefore come into operation on the goldfields, aDd in regard to the education 1 reserves forthwith. It was further agreed that the leasing clauses elsewhere should not be cut out, but that they should not come into operation until Parliament had had an opportunity for bringing in a bill to repeal these clauses if it was found to be desirable so to do. In yielding so far the managers were most anxious to get the bill placed in the statute book, as they felt that a great injustice would otherwise be done to a large body of persons located on the goldfields. They were hopeful that a further effort would be made to renew the conference with the view of bringing the whole question to an issue; but he understood that any-' movement in that direction would have to be, taken by the Council. He hoped the House would agree to the determination they had come to in reference to the postponement of the leasing clauses outside the goldfields, and in regard to the education reserves, rather than sacrifice the^ measure alto* gether. In conclusion, he submitted for the opinion of the Speaker that as this was a bill setting aside land for sale it was 'virtually an appropriation of money, and that therefore the Council was not justified in making the alteration it had done.

The Speaker replied that it could not be treated as a money bill, and in, reply to a furuiier remark he said that the next step would have to come from the Council.

This day. The Council's amendments in the District Eailways Bill were disagreed to and managers appointed. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Life Assurantas Policies Bill, saying it was an important bill, which he' should like to see passed if there was no strong opposition to it. After slight discussion, the second reading was agreed to and the bill committed. Clause 36 was struck out, and a few other unimportant amendments made, The bill was reported, read, a third time, and passed. The Licensing Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee, read a third time, and passed. At 1.35 the House adjourned until noon to-day. The conference on the Land Bill agreed to a compromise on the following basis. Purchasing clause not to apply within goldfields, but to apply to all other leased lands. In the residence clause youths residing with parents to .be allowed and also adults residing with parents to be allowed, and also adults residing on adjoining lands; and in the McKenzie clauseaproviso was added that mortgagees may hold by themselves or managers, but not for a greater period than three years.