PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2679, 8 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. A SHORT SITTING. ri’icu Press Association.! WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Magistrate’s Court Amendment Bill was put through the committee stage, read a third time, and passed. The Shipping and Seamen, Designation of Districts, and Land Settlements Finance Bills were read a first, time, and tlx© Council adjourned at 3.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. LAND BILLS. After midnight on Monday the. second reading of the Land for Settlement Administration Bill was agreed to on the voices. The Premier moved the third reading of the Land Settlement Finance Bill, which was agreed to on tbe voices. ’and th© Bill was passed. The House rose at 12.55 a.m. AN AMENDMENT NOT SECONDED. At tho afternoon sitting to-day, on the resumption of the interrupted debate on the question that the Teport of the Lands Committee on the Land Laws Amendment Bill do lie on tho table, Mr. Fisher moved to add that in the opinion of the House tho land proposals of the Government were unsatisfactory. The amendment was not seconded, and lapsed. OLD SOLDIERS’ CLAIMS.

Replying to Mr. Thomson (Wallace), tho Prime Minister said that the Government intended to issue instructions to Magistrates throughout the Dominion about the beginning of February to inquire and report into the claims of old soldiers. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ADMIN. ISTRATION BILL.

The House went into committee on the Land for Settlements Administration Bill.

At clause 3, providing that all settlement land and moneys shall be vested in the Superintendent, Messrs Arnold and Herries expressed disapproval of lands being so vested. Mr. Hogg thought that the laud should be vested in local bodies, a view which was supported by Mr. McLaren. Mr. Allen contended that wc were handing over our Crown lands to the money lender in England. Mr. Hogg moved that the word “Superintendent” be struck out of the clause, with a view to adding otherwords. .. . The amendment was lost on a division by 53 to 4. . At clause 9, providing means ci raising funds for the purposes of the Act, Mr. Massey moved to add the lollowing new sub-clause: “To. provide further funds, the Minister i s hereby empowered to sell to any lessse. of land held under this Act the fee simple or the land occupied by such lessee sublet to the following conditions: (1). The purchase price shall be the original value of the land; (2) Any lessee of the aforesaid land on any day appointed tor the payment of the land, may -pay to the Superintendent any sum not being less than one-tenth of the capital value in part payment of purchase money for the freehold of the land, and his. future rent shall henceforth be .proportionately The "debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. . At the evening sitting the interrupted debate on clause. 9 of the Lands for Settlement Administration Bill ana Mr. Massey’s amendment thereon was resumed. Mr Massey fended that lessees who had token up land on tease in perpetuity should be the freehold of their lands on the same terms as those having the optional tenure on paying the difference, one per “enC between their rental and the rental on the optional system. Mr Taylor (Christchurch) described the. Government’s land <j e _ moKnlous and unsatisfactory, and ae Stored Mr Massey's amendment not an discussion Mm Massey’s amendment was lost b\ 21 TTie following is the chvision on Mr. Massey’s amendment to For the amendment (21) • i'toss Herries, Hine, Lang Marnier, Massey, rl"”p“’scotrSmith, G A Thorny Colvin. Craigie, Davey, Dillon, 1; ■ uu “ can Ell Field, Forbes, Fowlcls, Glover, will Haian Hogan Hogg, Laurenson, Lawry, MacDonald, Jt.MeKe»«e, T. Mackenzie, McLaren, Millar W Parata, Poland, Poole, ■Russell, Seddon, Stallworthy, Sir WJ Steward, T. E. Taylor, Ranßihmoa, J. C. Thomson, Sir Joseph Ward, Mittv, and Wright. , Mr. Massey, then moved a new subclause, that to provMe funds the owner of a lease under the Lands toi Settlement Act may purchase the U o simple of the lands occupied by him at the original valuation. The chairman said that the l amendment was substantially the same as the previous one. i Mr. Massey then moved to report progress, in order that the. Speaker s ruling miglit b© taken on the point. This was rejected by 33 to 30. ' Clauso 19 (which provides for tlio classification and a limit of area according to section 97 of the Land Act 1908) was amended on the motion of Hue Premier by the omission of tlio words “and the limit of area in the case of each class,” and the substitution of a sub-clause providing that for tho purposes of the Act one acre of first-class land be deemed equivalent to 2} acres of third-class land. ' Dr. Newman moved a new sub-clause that an owner whose land has been taken may, in addition to the area mentioned in sub-clause A, retain .100 acres of first-class land or its equivalent on account of each adult son, providing he pan satisfy the Board that such son intends to follow agricultural or pastoral pursuits. Sir Joseph Warrd refused 1 to accept the amendment. Dr. Newman’s amendment was lost by 39 to 25. . ‘ The House was proceeding at midnight. (Left Sitting.)