THE STONEWALL RAISED

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3462, 14 October 1913, Page 5

THE STONEWALL RAISED

HOUSE ON THE LAND BILL,

EXPECTED TO BE COT THROUGH

IN ANOTHER DAY.

PREMIER’S “NO SURRENDER”

POLICY

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] WELLINGTON, Oct. 13. When the House resumed at 2.30 p.m. in committee on the Land Bill, Mr Massey said it had been his original intention to use Monday sittings for the passage of local Bills, but as there had been obstruction to the Land Bill, he proposed to go on with the measure for the present. He intended to give another day for the consideration of local Bills.

Sir Joseph .Ward asked the Prime Minister how far he intended going at that sitting with the Bill. One Minister declared that the Bill was going to be put through at the sitting. If that was the position, he said, the Opposition would strenuously object. Their opposition had not been to the Bill, but to clause 25. which had been ruled out by the Speaker. So far as tho Opposition was concerned, they had achieved the object they had in view. He asked if the Prime Minister intended to put the Bill through at that sitting. He wanted to publicly state that such a course would be unreasonable and the Opposition was not prepared to agree. There was only one alternative, which he did not want to adopt. It was the easiest thing in the world to keep the Bill going for a month, but again they did not want to do that. The reasonable thing to do was to fix a time for rising. He suggested going on till midnight, and then that the House should rise.

Mr Massey proceeded to review the proceedings of previous sittings to show that the request of the Opposition to adjourn at 5 o’clock on Saturday morning was unreasonable. He was. however, prepared to meet the Opjxisition, and. suggested going on till 5.30 p.m. If reasonable progress was made, he would then intimate what course he was prepared to adopt. On this understanding the stonewall was lifted, Mr Sidey proceeding to discuss clause 25.

The debate was carried on chiefly by the Labor party, leaseholders, and the mining representatives, the latter objecting to the freehold being given in mining districts, and especially to the preferential treatment given to the Hauraki district. After 22 hours’ discussion a division was taken on the clause at 5.20, when the voting was: Ayes 34 : noes 25. The Committee then passed on to consideration of clause 26, providing for the fee simple of l.i.p. and grazing runs. When the House resumed at 7.30 Mr Witty moved an amendment to clause 26’ to provide that the freehold shall apply to privately-owned lands. Mr Massey said the amendment was irrelevant, as the Bill only dealt with Crown lands _ After some discussion as to whether or not the amendment was irrelevant, the chairman ruled that it was not relevant to the clause. Mr Witty thereupon moved to take the Speaker’s ruling on the point. Mr Speaker ruled that the amendment was not relevant to the clause, but probably could be moved at the end of the Bill. At 8 o’clock 51 r Hanan called tor a division on that part of Clause 26 extending the right of purchase to small grazing runs. This resulted by 40 to 18 in favor of the portion of the clause being retained. . _ , In replv to an objection by Mr Robertson that under the Bill owners would lie able to aggregate their holdings, Mr Massey declared that a person wishing to acquire Crown lease's would have to satisfy a .competent tribunal that such acquisition would not lie prejudicial to public interests. It this Act did not prove satisfactory, he would strengthen it. He hoped to bring down another Land Bill next Massey refused a suggestion by Mr Hanan to insert provision against the owners of the fee simple subletting. He did not want to spoil the Bl ßeplving to Mr. Forbes. Mr Massey intimated that having drafted a new clause providing for the reclassification of Crown lands, La again ieminded members that next. geewon lie would bring down a Consolidation; and Amending Land Bill, and if they knew of any evils or hardships existing under present conditions lie hoped they would bring forward amendments in order to affect a remedy, He said it was reasonable to sit till Clause 40 was reached. , . • - c Sir Joseph Ward, replying, said it they reached that clause this sitting he would personally congratulate him. Messrs. Webb and Hindmarsh voiced their strong objections to the freehold clause, both members submitting that the question should be referred to the country. , , The House divided on the clause, the voting being 36 to 21. The clause with minor amendments was then passed. . Mr. Massey agreed to .increase the frontage for residential sections in urban and suburban areas from 33 feet to 40 feet. A further amendment was passed providing that aliens shall be allowed to acquire land in New Zealand vv here they are subjects of any treaties between their own countries and Great Britain. The countries concerned were Uruguay, Paraguay, Greece, and Italy. . , A proposal as to an extension time for the purchase of Crown or settlement Land upon deferred payment from 9 to 19 years was parsed without opposition. The Clause dealing with the sale ot settlement lands by auction was amended to road that- deposit money's shall be five per cent, and the balance at the same rate per annum ana the clause was passed. Progress was reported and the House rose at mid-night.