PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 66, 15 May 1869, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.

(Condensed from the " Daily Times.") Monday, Max lOfeh.

Mr REID laid before the Council, a statement of the policy of the new Government, between the members of which great harmony prevailed. They were of one mind as regarded rhe administration of the Land Act, and they considered that so long as it was in force any Government that might occupy these benches ought to be unanimous in "regard to its adminstration.— (Hear, hear.) "But whilst he stated this much, he also desired to say that en the framing of a new Land Act, then the members of the Government might be free to vote as they might think fit ; but as long as the present Act was in force, they thought the Government should be united in regard to its administration. They believe that, as a general rule, all lands should be proclaimed into Hundreds before they were thrown open for sale. — (Hear, hear.) There were already certain petitions before the Council in regard to the proclamation of Hundreds, and it was intended to propose that they should be referred to a select committee to consider and report thereon. — first, as to necessity that .might exist regarding the Hunnreda, and secondly, as to the adaptability of the country that it was desired should be declared into Hundreds. They felt that it was a sacrifice of the pablic estate to dispose of the blocks until such time as they had been proclaimed into Hundreds. They had already had some experience in that matter. There was a block of valuable land which was taken up in the district of Tapanui, and there notwithstanding the superior quality of the land, it realised very little in excess of £1 per

acre. They Avere cf opinion that had that land been proclaimed into Hundreds, the price obtained would have been greatly in excess of that amount, and at the same time the benefit to settlers occupying the land would have been materially increased. With regard to the question of blocks within the Goldfields, it might be necessary to take advantage of them in opening up agricultural areas for settlement within the Goldfiel'ds. In no case could land comprised in these areas be proclaimed into Hundreds, so long as a doubt existed of its being of an auriferous character. 'It was intended to open up blocks of land around the centres of population in goldfields, and survey them with the least possible delay, and it was a matter for regret tint this had not been done before. After referring to the high price of provisions on the Goldfields, which, he said, ought to be produced at one-half the cost, the high rate of which was owing to agricultural land not being opened for occupation, he remarked that the Government were of opinion that all lands comprised within Goldfields, and not of an auriferous character, should be brought under the operation of the Goldfields Act as soon as possible ; not with the view of evading compensation, but because theywere of opinion that it was unnecessary to continue it under the operation of that Act any longer. In fact it never ought to have been brought under operation of it. With regard to land at 10s. per acre, he believed that there was comparatively little of that land in the market, but the Government thought it injudicious to force it upon the market as it had been done. They thought it would be much better to leave the land until such time as the settlers in the vicinity were ready to purchase. There might be portions that would not realise the price of £1 per acre, and they might be so situated that they would be of little benefit to the settler. But the time would come when it would be desirable to bring them into the market, and they were disposed to think it would be much better to sell them in the usual way at a reduced price, instead of being forced on the market at auctions. They did not think that a judicious system. Whilst they were disposed to see a judicious and liberal proclamation of Hundreds, they thought it was desirable that there should be an amendment of the Waste Lands Act, in order to compel those who received grazing benefits within these Hundreds to pay their assessments to the Provincial Treasury. That had been one of the strongest arguments that the opponents of Hundreds hail brought to bear against the system. They required regulations of a very peculiar character, inasmuch as it would be an injustice to those who had a large extent of freehold within these Hundreds, to compel them to pay the same as those persons occupying Crown Lands. That could not be provided in the Act, and have to be done by the Superintendent, with the advice of the Kxecutive or the Jfro-rincial Council. At tho samo time, whilst considering an amendment of the Waste Land Act it might be a question for consideration, whether it is desirable to provide for permanent commonages in all Hundreds which may be proclaimed. Whilst they said that nothing ought to stand in the way of the proclaiming of the new Hundreds when required for settlement and occupation, at the same time they would take care, so long as they occtipied the Government benches, that the strictest justice was done to those who were now in possession of Waste Lands under the leases granted to them. There was no provision for the compensation for extra assessment paid on stock to those whose licenses were taken from them before the time expired, and in .those cases they were of opinion that the full amount paid in excess into the Treasury, together with interest, should be repaid. He thought that very few hon. mombers would object to that ; at the same time compensation should be awarded for cill actual improvements which they might have effected on their runs. ' While they believed that ample and just compensation must be paid to them, they were of' opinion that no consideration ought to stand in the way of land being taken as required. Very few persons who occupied pastoral lands. would object to the lands being taken as they were required. The Government were at one on those points. The Government would support the Clufcha Railway, if it could be constructed for the guaranteed amount. They would support warmly the Oamaru Dock Trust Bill, the Waitaki Bridge, and endeavor to obtain a more satisfactory system of Road Boards endowment. They see no reason for an immediate dissolution, or for pressing the Representation Bill. And now, with regard to their position so far as a ministerial crisis was concerned. They desired to state that they did not consider that a thoroughly parliamentary system could be carried out fully in such an Assembly as that. They would not be induced to resign on every small difference of opinion that might arise ; but so soon as hon. members were dissatisfied with the Government, it would be for them to propose, if they thought proper, a direct vote of want of coufideiice in the Government.