ON THE HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12388, 8 December 1909, Page 5

ON THE HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

GOVERNMENT AGAIN NEARLY

DEFEATED

WELLINGTON, December 7. I The Land Bill, having got on to the table, it was" thought that trouble was ended, but later on Mr Massey sprung a surprise on the House by moving when the Lands for Settlements Bill was in Committee, an amendment affirming the principle of the freehold. This, of course, put the Government freeholders in an awkward fix. Yesterday it was the leaseholders who were in a quandary; now it was the other section.of the party that was in trouble. .Of ■ course,, they had to either, vote for ' ths .motion and against the Government. lor else go back... on the freehold. In choosing the latter course several of ' them explained that they did so because the leader of the Opposition had in- ! eluded the. renewable lease i in his ' amend?nent. Had. they not done so : they stated they would vote- for the r amendment, overlooking the fact that ! the Government's own freehold pro- ! posals also included the renewable lease. ; Tho amendment was rejected by 42 to 21, whereupon Mr Massey moved another amendment to the effect that L.I.P. tenants should have the right to • acquire' the freehold at the original ' value. This was ruled out of order by the Chairman of Committees, on the I ground that it was practically the same motion as that already negatived.

Mr .Massey then moved to take tho Speaker's opinion on this ruling, but this was lost by 33 to 30.