PARILIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 232, 30 September 1902, Page 5

PARILIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (By Telegraph—l. a. uaxnentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. LAND TITLES PROTECTION. There was a fairly lengthy debate . the Legislative Council yesterday er t he second reading of the Land Titles Protection Bill. The legislation was regarded by the Hon. Mr Osmond as fully .justified tin view f the enormous interests involved, but he urged that full enquiry should u-ade into the resnonsibilities of 'the land transfer authorities, and into the position of the asrurance fund that had accrued under the Act, insinuated that he would move in ♦hat direction next session. He was opposed to the proposal in the bill to place in the hands of the Government the power to decide when litigation could, or could not, be taken regarding this growing tendency to place large powers in the hands of the Governor-in-Council, as likely to some day to prove exceedingly dangerous. The Hon. Mr Tomoana opposed the yll, and suggested that the Europeans and natives interested in disputed titles should meet and appoint a committee from themselves to draft o measure better calculated to meet the case. After the Hons. Mr Tairoa and Col. Pitt had spoken, the bill was read a second time, put through committee unamended, and passed its final stages. CLEARING THE COUNCIL ORDER PAPER. The following measures were put through all stages in the Legislative Council:—West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill, Accident Insurance Companies Bill, Solicitors' Bill.of Costs. Licensing Committees and Polls Bill, Courthouse Sites Exchange Bill.