Parliamentary. (BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, July 31.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume 29, Issue II, 3 August 1899, Page 1

Parliamentary. (BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, July 31.

Duiing the debate which took piaae when the Pietnier moved that the amendments made in Coinnntteo in the Land for Settlement Act Amendment Dill be agreed, scveial leterences were made to the Waikakahi Estate. The Piemier said, " I think in laying oft such laipre settlements us, say, Waikakabi and Staiboiough, there ought to be a power given us, that in the land set apaifc for township purposes, we should be able to sell the leligiovs bodies a section, not exceeding an acie, foi the pmpose of building churches thereon. The honouiable member lot Waitaki also pointed out to me that thei» was no provision made for the establishment of dairj factories, and that as some of the land to be taken would be suitable for dairy purposes, powei might be given to dispose of the land foi the puippsa of having a dairy factory erected upon it." Mi' Rblleston contended, "That all social and political lefoim in the future- — the establishment of home life and the maintenance of stable go — centres ' aiound this land question and. the establishment of local government which should be next in connection with the settlement of land. It ia at th(» pi Cbent time that we may do it. We have got the oppoitunity now in connection \\ ith blocks oi land like - Waikakahi — which h piactically a new countiy added to "New Zealand — of e&tabpshing a. system of loci] government tlealI ing with &oij«),l questions, with health, [ dealing with education, dealing with recieafion, dealing with public libraries, hospi1 tals, achools of ait. dealing with thehquor law and social questions geneially, and I hold jou will iuuve at a leally beneficial denlmg with the land question, when you bung it lpto connection with your local ' government, and provide that a poition of thepioceeds of the land let on peipetual lease shall oe local endowments for those pui poses " Mi Duncan, who followed, s"ud, " Why should any poition of the Waikakahi be taken as an endowment. And the honour- , able gentleman said that there ought to' be ceitain poitions set aside as endowments foi local government and other things in such places as Waikakahi, Why then net make it a general thing and apply it throughout the colony, and have other piaces set aside for endowments. The honouuible gentleman's pioposal is not a tail one that ceitain places should be singled out and set aside. This is another way to tiy and kul the Bill." DrBENTDKES. Regaiding the question of debentures, Mr W. J. Allen moved in Committee that no deuentuies should be given beaiing a, highei inteiegt than 3^ per cent. " Unfoi'nunately," snid Mr Montgomery, " this was defeated, and incidentally we learned that debentuies for the Waikakahi Estate, to the value of £250,000 were given at 3^ Continued on fourth page,