HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1584, 29 August 1882, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. On the motion of Mr J. McKenzie, The Land Act, 1877 Amendment Bill was, on a division of 50 to 29, recom- | mitted, and the following added as a new clause : — "No original holder, transferee, i or other person occupying any particle of land, either by himself or jointly with, any other person, under license or lease fiom the Crown, capable of carrying on the whole twenty thousand sheep or more, or four thousand head of cattle or more, shall be entitled to become the purchaser or transferee of any pastoral license or lease after the coming into operation of this act, and should any original holder, transferee, or other person so occupying any pastoral lands as aforesaid become the purchaser of any runs hereafter exposed at auction, all payments of rent made in accordance with the conditions of sale shall be forfeited to the Crown, and any license or lease issued shall be deemed to have been void, and of no effect from the date Of issue." The bill was read a third time and passed. In Committee of the whole House Mr Johnston" moved as follows :—(1).: — (1). Tha it is not expedient that an attempt should be made for the present to establish a direct steam postal service between England and New Zealand, as the large subsidy which would necessarily be required would more than counterbalance the advantages ; (2) that the San Francisco mail service now in operation should be extended for two Or three years, if the cost of extension does not exceed the present cost to the colony ; (3) that it is of importance that there should be a monthly passenger and mercantile steam service establishment between England and New Zealand by suitable steam vessels ; (4) that the length of the voyage each way should not exceed fifty days ; (5) that any contract should not be for more than three years ; (6) that the cost of such service to the colony should not exceed £40,000 per annum j (7) the Government arc thereby authorised to give effect to this resolution." He said ',it was found that a subsidy of" £160,000 would be required for a service to be performed in 30 days, and that was considered too much at present. Power to renew the 'Frisco service was asked, subject to any arrangements that might be -made with New South Wales to clef ray part of the cost, as at present New Zealand paid £5350 for this service, and they asked the power of renewal on the understanding that the amount would be about the same as it was at present. The mercantile service referred to would be of great service in developing the trade ot the colony, and encouraging passenger traffic/ Mr D.vkgaville moved, as an amendment, " That power be given to Government to make the term five instead of three years for renewal ol the San Francisco contract." The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.