THE LAND SYSTEM

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10442, 6 October 1911, Page 5

THE LAND SYSTEM

~ DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE. AN INTERESTING DEBATE.' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Last Night.

. When the vote for the Dtjpartmnet of Lands' and Survey (£251,858) was Under discussion* in the House resentatives this afternoon,- Mr. -Malcolm moved to; reduce tie,item,by £2, . as' ai ' protest that the present ballot system for lands was unsatisfactory, and that a more equitable system;was necessary. Ait the present time, he concluded, the ballot was over-crowd- , ed by personsSiot desirous of settling on the land. ' ■•-( The Hon. D. Buddo said the' land, settlement system was a credit to the Government, and he instanced the area! opened.last year. More land had, he declared, been 'openedhere ; during the same period than in New South Wales. '/'''■ "'^ ■■■''' :— ■' Mr Pearce favoured the deferred payment system, "with, examination and election, ; for the disposition of lands. - jThe ; jiballot system" working as it should do. The people were sick of it* , : ■'.■'■ ■■■)

Mr. Newman siaid he could not support the amendment, as' nothing had been suggested as a siibsitute for -tibe; ballot system. ; v.. , v Mr. Okey expressed ihe "opinion.; that.any system was better than the ballot. Men wasted yearsatthe bal-" lot. The large land-owners got no . sympathy from the Opposition. - 1 Mr Ross .said the amendment was designed simply to cloud* the issue and : get i division lists for use on the platform. The Farmers' Union, whichiwas the mouthpiece of the Opposition, had declared itself against limitation of-area. v

Mr Malcolm said bis amendment was directed against sharks, landgrabbers, and, gamiblers, who;d©niatided huge sums as goodwill from genuine farmers.

The amendment to reduce the vote was lost by 36 votes to 12.

Mr Noaworthy moved the reduction of the item of £509 for the Commissioner of Crown Lands', as an indication of dissatisfaction of the way in< which the Canterbury runs were disposed of. The amendment was lost- by 36 votes ■t0.24. ■ : .X- ;■.,. -. -•■;■ '•'.','.' \t; r :--

Mr Herries urged that salaries'paid to surveyors were not; sufficient to .keep our surveyors in the Dominion. .He 'believed that if Crown and Native land was' cut up on »• proper scale of pay* there be no need for young surveyors to leave New ■ '. The Minister said.there had been no reduction of rates paid to surveyors.' ■

Sir James Carroll mentioned that at the .present time 702,000 acres of Native lands were under survey.' . Mr Massey said he was disappointed to find that only £877 had ibeen spent by the Crown last, year out of £2OOO voted for the purpose of dealing with noxious weeds; ' V /

The Hon. Mr Buddb said he was advised that the Department had spent £llßs in.that direction. ■', ••(Left-'Sitting.) V: