PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2947, 11 July 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

House of Representatives. ' THE LAND AOI UIENTMENT DILI, ~ In the House yesterday the second reading of this Bill was moved by tbe Minister of Lands. Tbe principal object of the Bill is to enable legislation to be effected concerning tho Canterbury pastoral leases which were falling in 1890. About two million acres would fall in, and a quarter of that amount would bo suitable for sub-dividiug into small runs and farms, With reforenco to the grant to Mr Bell of the Keruiadec Islands ho was of opinionMrßcllbad nopower to transfer that land to a company. The number of acres brought under the operation of the Land Act of last session was 700,000. Tho perpetual lease system seemed to be the most acceptable to the public, but it was not so good for revenue purposes. Mr Ballance strongly opposed the abolition of Laud Boards.

MrG.Beetham congratulated the Minister on the Bill. He drow attention to tho want of road access to properties in this district. He objected to the abolition of Land Boards but thought they should bo elective,

Sir George Groy taunted the Government with having given away two and a half millions of acres of land to a foreign syndicate, and sold to the people in tho country 05,000 acres. Dr Newman spoke strongly in favor of settling the Waste Lauds of the Wellington-Hawkes Bay districts as a means of relieving .the depression. Several members having spoken the Minister of Lands'replied. He pointed out that Land Boards were practically abolished by legislation last session..

The Bill was read a second time'and referred to the Waste Lands Committee. . ■' .