PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10402, 24 August 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(By Telegraph —Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, -Last Night. The Council met at 2.3U p.m. today. ACKNOWLEDGMENT. A letter was read from Mrs W. C. Smith, acknowledging the sympathy of the Council on the death of her husband. DIVINITY DEGREES. Replying to Sir Maurice O'Rorke, the Hon. J. McGowan, representing the Ministry, said the question of complying with the request of the University Senate that a Bill be passed, to enable the Senate to grant divinity degrees., was Tinder the consideration of the Government. lAENSMN.ERS' SETTLEMENTS.

Sir Maurice O'Rorke .moved that in the opinion of the. Council it is desirable to establish a few pensioners' 'settlements between Te Awaimutu and Miarton, each pensioner to receive a cottage and an acre of.land in the settlement, and 20 acres -with-' ■in five miles of the settlement three years after arrival; each pensioner to be married and accompanied by bis family.. Sir Maurice pointed to what Sir George Grey had done to establish such .settlements in the vicinity of Auckland an 1847. The Hon. Seymour George, who supported the motion, said the original isettleiments were more for the purpose of defence than, anything else. He would like to see the motion taking the direction of small farms rather than the village settlements ■suggested. The Hon. C. M. Luke, while admitting that the motion was in the right direction, .contended that a more vigorous public works and land settlement policy must be pursued if the (country is to be developed as it should be. The Hon. C. H. Mill® did not think the proposal would secure the right class of settlers. There were hundreds of people desirous of getting land who were unable to obtain iii ' The Hon. W. W. McCardle referred to the difficulty of settlement on small, unimproved holdings, but welcomed anything that would further settlement. The Hon. R. A. Loughnan supported, the motion, whale the Hons. Harris and Barr opposed it on the' (ground that there were plenty of people here who .were, anxious (to get. .on the land. The Hon. J. McGowan. w'as sorry, to say hi£ coiridnot support the motion of bfs old friend.. The debate, was adjourned.