GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14162, 30 September 1911, Page 10

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(ABBtDGKD TKXM ASSOCIATION K2TOBT.) J

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

FBIDAY SEPTESfBKB 29.

AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' BILL. TheFriendly Societies' Act Amendment Bill -«ac read a third time, and passed. LAND SETTLEMENT. The Hon. W. W. AlcCAiU>l£ resumed the debate on the Hon. J. D. **«««£*' motion expressing approval of the land settlement proposals outlined in tbe financial statement, especially the encouragement to bo given to eettlemenc by associations of intending settlers in conjunction with the construction or public works. Mr McCardle traced the history of the introduction of the Land Act of 1877 and 1879, and the efiorts which ho and others had made to settle bush lands and to efiect the formation of large associations for the purpose ot taking up land in the Forty-Mile Bush. The Land Board of the district at that time, however, refused to grant small settlers good land; and the association had to be disbanded. Mr Donald Iteid's Land Act of 1877 and 1879 was the first Land Act in the Dominion in the direction of settlement associations, and Mr McCardle now recommended something in the direction of the provisions of that Act in regard to associations for sottlement. Referring to the Land Finance Act, he said it was not working particularly well just now, because the Land Boards were not prepared to give a proper value to the landj and at present delay in getting surveys completed hindered "settlement. Ho wanted the ( Government to assist financially small 'men in the erection of buildings, etc. He generally approved of the Government's land proposals. The Hon. J. McGOWAN considered they were going on wrong lines. The State should not part with an acre of land, and should resume every acre it ooii?d possibly get. The Hon. J. R. SINCLAIR said the proposals of the Government for the future were such as would ensure the* success of settlement. He expressed approval of carrying on settlement in connection with the construction of public works." The Hon. J. T. PAUL said he did not think the land policy had been as vigorous as it might have been. Referring to speculation in land, he said if be had his way he would make land speculation a criminal offence. Hβ was disappointed at the proposal in the Budget concerning an increased graduated land tax, but he approved the proposed graduated tax submitted by Mr Anstey, which was on a §cientific basis. It was only by the application of a scientific graduated land tax that subdivision would take place to a satisfactory extent. Tho Hon. H. F. "WIGRAM denounced the ballot system, and referred to what had recently been done in connection with the Mokau lands. He maintained that better consideration should be given to men who really desired to become bona fid© settlors. The Hon. S. T. GEORGE pointed out the necessity for settling native lands in the North Island. Generally he approved of a graduated land, tax, but there were limits beyond, which it was undesirable to cro.' To put a graduated tax on Jand which nobody wanted, nnd wbich.it was not desirable to acquire, was a course he'disapproved of. He. however, congratulated the Government upon the pchenw* nropoeed. Sir JOHN, FINDLAY also spoke. [A summary of his speech appears in another column.] The Hon. J. D. ORMOND having briefly. renlied, the motion, was carriedand the Council rose.