PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9669, 7 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 6. In the House this afternoon Mr R. A. Wright, Wellington South, resumed the interrupted debate cm the report of the Committee on the Land Laws Amendment Bill, which the Chairman moved should be laid on the table, and Mr Herries moved as an amendment that the minutes of the proceedings of the Committee be laid on the table. Mr Wright said that he was unable from the Premier's speeches to say whether Sir Joseph Ward was a leaseholder or a freeholder. The policy of the administration on the land question meant the downfall of the party. The Government's policy was purely an opportunist one based on the retention of office at any price. Mr T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North) said that rural lands had increased enormously in value, not only as the results of owners' efforts but as a result of the efforts of the labourers of the community. Referring to Mr T. McKenzie's position in the Cabinet, he said that that Minister had driven the wedge into the Liberal Party at Rangitikei. What authority had Mr McKenzie, he asked, to speak for the Cabinet in offering the freehold and thus giving the Liberal policy away. Perhaps the time would come when the national endowments would be given away—not to save the Liberal Party but to preserve the Cabinet. This Land Bill —this abortion—this thing without shape or form bad, said Mr Taylor, been conceived by the Government in secret, and when it came tottering into the house members were supposed to accept it with- '

out question. Mr D H. Guthrie (Oroua), speaking of his attitude in Committee, said he was proud of having the freehold clauses retained. There were 54 freeholders in the House, which was a clear indication that the majority of the electors demanded the freehold. The Government had only carried out its declared policy, which was to find out what the people want, and give it

to them. The Hon. J. A. Millar said he was amused at the charges made against him of abandoning his principles. These had not changed. There was nothing in the Bill to abolish the leasehold tenure, and it appeared to him that the time of the House was being wasted for the Bake of 4.417 land for settlement tenants. Sptaking for himself he was quite prepared to go to the country next week. The sooner they went to the country and got the question settcled the better. The debate was adjourned until » tomorrow afternoon and the House rose. In the House in the evening the Shipping and Seamtns Bill was put through the final stages. The Premier moved the second reading of the Land for Settlements Administration Billjto amend the law relating to the acquisition and administration of lands for settlement. I He explained at length the principal clauses of the Bill as they relate to finance, lands administration, limitation of areas, modification of the Workers' Dwellings Act and alterations in valuation rolls. The Bil.', Jie pointed out, inter alia, repealed section 52 of the principal Act, and provided that successful applicants in ballots under the Act who dispose < of their land, shall bs disqualified from taking part in further ballots' for n>e years, and successful applicants tor rural lands would be. re-' quired to reside continuously on I allot nents for ten years. )