Parliamentary. (BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, July 17.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 23, 20 July 1899, Page 1

Parliamentary. (BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, July 17.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. During the, debate on the second reading of the Land for ' Settlement Act Amendment Bill Mr Sligo referred to the purchase of Waikakahi as another ( instance of how the fat man was made fatter. M r Dulhie, one of Wellington's representatives, was also inclined to strongly denounce the proposed policy of the Government. He said that the country was being plunged into a. bog.* The Government had no money to buy land, therefore had to borrow thousands 'from the London moneylenders. The effect would be to transfer the ownership of the lands of the colony to for-, eign land holders. They would degrade the people to a lower level than the peasants of Ireland, for in that country the absentee landlords spent something within its borders. At the present time we were living happily, spending the loan money, squandering the price of our freehold, but we would yet have to pay for it. He thought that Welling'*lon Wasnhe only place-where 'a,schen?,e for the erection of workmen's house? was required. Mr Lewis thought ifc was a mistake to have workmen's villages near the four large centres. Here and there up country little colonies of four or live workmen's homes could be established with advantage to the workmen and the neighbouring landowners. Mr O'Began, one of the eleven who voted against the second reading of the Bill, said that this measure would be of more benefit to land speculators and large landowners than to any one else.

WAIKAKAHI. The Premier, replying to Mr Duthie, stated that not one penny of interest went out of the colony over the purchase of the Waikakihi estate, as all its debenture holders dwelt in New Zealand. Mr Duncan contended that !}he Government did not pay too much tor the purchase of Waikakihi.

ADVANCES, TO SETTLERS. In the Advance to Settlers Act Amendment Bill, which was introduced to the House by Governor's message on Friday evening, provision is made tor advances on urban and suburban lands. In these cases the loans will be on the instalment plan, the minimum sum being fixed at aDd the maximum at i£2ooo. Urban land means land situated in a borough of at leaat 20000 inhabitants, and is not used for farming, dairying, or market gardening purposes. Suburban land means land situated in a boiough with a population of less than 20000 inhabitants. SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SSJAIiL BIRDS. Mr Mills, Government whip, is asking the Government to introduce legislation this session to extend and give greater powers to school committees, and Mr' E. G. Allen is asking the Acting Ministers for Agriculture when the results of the experiments that he said last session he was in favour of being made by the Agricultural Department for the destruotioa of small birds will be available for the informat ion of settlers. (Continued on fourth page.)