HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE LAND LAWS

In tlie House this afternoon, on resumption of the interrupted debate on the question that the report of the Lands Committee that the Land Laws Aniendment Bill lie on the table, Mr Fisher moved to add: " That in the opinion of this House the land proposals of the Government are unsatisfactory."' Tho amendment was not seconded,, and lapsed. OLD SOLDIERS. Replying to Mr J.'.Cl Thomson (Wallace), the Prime Minister said 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. LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT. 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 Hei-ries expressed disapproval of lands being so vested. Mr Hogg thought land should bevested in local bodies, a view supported by Mr McLaren. Mr Allen contended that we were handing over our Crown Lands to themoneylenders in England. Mr Hogg moved that " Superintendent" be struck out of the clause, with a view to adding other words. This was lost on a division by 53 to 4, and" the clause was passed as printed.

At Clause 9, providing means of raising funds for the purposes of the Act, Mr Massey moved to add the following new sub-clause: "To provide further funds the Minister is hereby empowered to sail to any lessee of land held nn'rler this Act the fee simple of the land occupied by such lessee, subject to the following conditions: (1) The purchase price shall be the original v alue of the la.nd; (2) any lessee of theaforesaid land on any day appointed for the payment of the rent may pay to the Superintendent any sum not being less than one-tenth of the capital value, in part payment of the purchase money, for the freehold of the land. This "future rent shall henceforth he proportion atity reduced " ,

The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. * EVENING SITTING. The interrupted. debats on Clause 9 of the Lauds for Settlement Administration Bill and Mr Massey's amendment thereon was resumed. Mr Massey contended that lessees who liad taken up land' on lease in perpetuity' should be allowed the freehold" of their lands on the same terms, as those having optional tenure on paying the difference of 1 per cent, between their rental and the rental on the optional system. Mr Taylor . described the Government's land proposals as nebulous nrul unsatisfactory, and declared Mr Masstey's ! amendment not an honest. proposal. After much further discussion Mr Massey's amendment was lost by 42 to 21. : Mr Massey then moved a new subclause to provide that the owners of leases under the Lands for Settlements Act may purchase the fee simple of lands occupied by them at the original valuation. The Chairman said the amendment was substantially the same as the previous one. Mr Massey then moved to report progress, in order that the Speaker's ruling be taken on the point. ~ This was rejected by 33 to 30. Clause 19 (which provides for classification and limit of area according to Section 97 of the Land Act, 1908) was amended on the motion of the Premier by the omission of the words " and the limit of area in the case of each class "" and the . substitution of a sub-clause providing that for the purposes of the Act one acre, first class, be deemed equivalent to 2£ acres third class land. Mr Newman moved a new sub-clause | that an owner whose land had been taken may, in addition to the area mentioned in sub-clause (a) retain 100 acres first-class land or its equivalent on account of each adult son, providinghe can satisfy the Board that such son intends to follow agricultural or pastoral-pursuits.

Sir J. G. Ward refused to accept the amendment.

Mr Newman's amendment was lost by 29 to 25.

The debate was proceeding at midnight.