PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2678, 7 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

PETITIONS COMMITTEE.

D'jtll RIIKBS ASSOCIATION-! WELLINGTON, Dec. 6. The Council this afternoon agreed to the report of the Petitions Committee 'recommending the petition f -of Major W. G. Mail- for compensation for services rendered to the State to the favorable consideration of the Government. No other business was available.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE LAND QUESTION

In the House this afternoon Mr. Wright resumed the interrupted debate on the report of the Committee on the Land Laws Amendment Bill, which the chairman moved should lie on the table. Mr. Herries, as an amendment, had moved that the minutes of the proceedings of' the committee should be laid on the table. Mr. Wright said that he was unable, from the Premier’s speeches, to say whether Sir Joseph Ward was a leaseholder or a freeholder. The policy of the Administration on the land question meant the downfall of the patty. It meant the negation of democracy, of Liberalism, and' of principle. The Government’s policy Avas purely an opportunist one, based on the retention of office at any price. He hoped that the Government Avould abandon their Land Bill.

Mr. Taylor (Christchurch) said that rural lands had increased enormously in value, not only as the result of the owners’ efforts, but as the result of the labors of the community. Referring to the Hon. T. Mackenzie’s position in the Cabinet, he said that the Minister had driven a wedge into the Liberal party at Rangitikei. What authority liad Mr. Mackenzie, he asked, to speak for the Cabinet in offering the freehold and thus giving the Liberal policy aAvay? Perhaps the time Avould come when the national endowments Avould be given aAvay, not to save the. Liberal party, but to preserve the Cabinet. This Land Bill, this abortion, this thing Avithout shape or form, had, said Mr. Taylor, been conceived by the Government in secret, and when it came tottering into the House members Avere supposed to accept it Avithout question. The democratic sentiment of the country on the land question, Avliieh ought to be a line of demaveation between the parties, had been betrayed. The Lioeral party had no policy, no leader. The Government Avas too Avea'k to lead, and the press Avas paralysed, and it was vain to look to it for help. Mr. Guthrie, speaking of his attitude in committee, said that he was proud of having the freehold clauses retained. Thei'e Avere 54 freeholders in the House, which Avas a clear indication that the majority of the. electors demanded the freehold. The Government had only carried out its declared policy, which was to find out Avhat the people wanted and give it to them. Mr. Arnold defended Mr. Guthrie’s action on the committee on the Bill, as the latter Avas a declared freeholder. There were five leaseholders and fWe freeholders on the committee, so that the casting vote Avas necessary to retain the clauses if the Avhole of the members AA’ere present. He believed that at the second meeting one of the leasehold members, Avho had at the first meeting voted against the freehold clauses, had reA-ersed his vote, with the result that the clause was reinstated. The Government would have, apparently, no hesitation in forcing its Land Bill through the House, with the Opposition A r ote, but AA’ould regard the action of its leasehold supporters in A-oting Avitfi the Opposition at any time as the greatest political crime that could be committed.

The Ron. J. A. Millar said he was amused at the charges made against him of abandoning his principles. These had not changed. There was nothing in the Bill to abolish the leasehold tenure, and it appeared to him that the time of the House; Avas being wasted for the sake of the land for settlement tenants. The GoA r ernment had secured the increment under the freehold clauses of the Bill to the extent of one-fifth increase in value every 33 years. Speaking for himself, he was quite prepared to go to the country next week. The sooner they Avent to the country and got the question settled the better. As far as ehe present Cabinet was cncerned the nine million acres endowment would be retained.

The debate Avas adjourned until tomorroAv afternoon, and the House rose. THIRD READINGS.

In the House at the evening sitting the Slapping and Seamen and the Designation of Districts Bills were put through the final stages. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of the Land for Settlements Administration Bill, to amend the law relating to the acquisition and administration of lands for settlement. He explained at length the principal clauses of the Bill, as they relate to finance, lands administration, limitation of areas, modification of the "Workers’ Dwellings Act, and alterations of the rolls. The Bill, lie pointed out, inter alia, repealed section 52 of the principal Act, and provided that successful applicants in ballots under the > Act, who dispose of tlieir lands, shall be disqualified from taking part in further ballots for five years, and successful applicants for rural lands would bo required to reside continually on their allotments for ten years. Mr. Massey said that the Bill evidently contemplated the passing of me State Guaranteed Advances Bill, and would not seriously interfere with the Lands for Settlement Act., He hoped that when the Bill was in committee, provision would be made lor men ot energy, with small capital, to settle on limited iareas of land, He had expected that some attempt would be made to improve the methods of the lands for settlement scheme in the direction of granting the freehold to settlers. ? In regard to the reduced limitation of areas allowed to be held, Mr. Massey said that this ought to be based on the size of the man’s family, each case being treated on its merits. The provisions for the oompulsory taking of land within 15 miles radius of towns having a population of 5000, would operato harmfully on farmers near the towns, and would create a feeling of unrest. The Bill was mostly ft Committee Bill, and he would deal with it when ■>it reached the committee stage. The Bill meant altering the nature of the security for loans, and ho asked the Prime Minister pawning our freehold estate to London financiers. There was no provision for native lands in tho Bill, though the amount to he borrowed had been increased from half a million to one million for the purpose of applying the provisions of the Act to native lands. The oompulsory clauses in. relation to suburban land were too drastic. • Mr Hogg strongly opposed the clauses for taking land around boroughs, as

they would act prejudicially on; small farmers. . ...... Alter much further debate Sir Joseph Ward replied, and said that the fears about small farmers in the neighborhood of boroughs Avere unfounded. The Government had never taken land from a small fanner, and he Avould not have the slightest objection to striking out the word “compulsory.” He had the most absolute contempt for the men Avho posed as Avorkers’ friends yet Avhen a Bill avus brought down to help them to get homes opposed it. Sir Joseph Ward Avas still speaking at midnight. (Left Sitting.)