LAND DRAINAGE BILL.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8898, 14 September 1894, Page 5

LAND DRAINAGE BILL.

The Hon. 3, M'Kenzie's Land Drainage Amendment Bill, besides making other amendments in the principal Act, has the following sab-section to clause 19:— "The Board may without any previous agreement with the owner or occupier of any land within district, upon giving twenty-four boon' notice, enter upon any tach lands, whether the same be Crowd lands or not, and take levtls of the same. The Board may join with any other district in the execution of any works, the- construction of whjch will be either wholly or partially within or without its district." The Bill alao provide* for the appointment of assessors by a private owner. HARBOUR ANo"iDDOATIQN RE-* SERVES. ._ This Bill, introduced by the Minister of Lands, provide* that the Governor may, by drder-id-Council, declare that any lands now or hereafter reserved as harbour or education endowment shall be subject to provision of thia Act. Upon the gazetting of inch Order-in-Coascif, the- lands described therein may be leased by the Land Board of the district. Any lands included in such Qrier-in-Council which had therefore been ajrj^dy. leased shall nob be affected until 'the expiration of the existing lease; provided thateveryleeeaejwith the content of theßoard, ( may, by, endorsement of his lease, become subject to ti&e'provisions of this Act. As to valuations and renewals, every lease shall be for a term of thirty years, and shall be renewable three yoara before the end of the term. A valuation «nall ; be made by arbitration 61 the then value of the fee simple of the lands included ia the lease; and also of all substantial improvements of a jwtv inapent character made by the lessee. Thee the feasee shall elec.6 whether he will accept & fresit lease for a further term of thirty yean at a rental equal to £5 per centUu on the then value of the lands after deducting the value of the improvements. If the lessee does note accept, renewal the lease shall be offered Cor public tender. Uβ shall Tie. paid by his successor the value of his improve* mente. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES. When the ease ef J£*|br Brawn came up this aiternooo in the form of a question. Sir

Robert Stout made a very significant etatemeot mto the work of the Parliamentary Committees. He contended that some ol the reports of these Committees were treated as so much waste paper. Political colour was almost invariably introduced into their deliberations, and party feeling ran high. Following this up, Captain Russell stated that while he admitted in would be unbecoming for him to run down the Committees, still he could not help asking if any member would like his personal honour to be enquired into by these bodies. Owing to the late sittings, many members were often late or absent, while only two or three of those particularly interested turned up. The evidnece was taken in a fragmentary manner. Same heard the beginning of the evidence, come the middle, ana a number none at all. Under suoh circumstances would any member voluntarily place a question touching hia personal honour before such a tribunal. Othet members strongly dented that the political element was introduced into the Committee work. KEEPING POLICY BILLS BACK. With no less than seventy-four Bills oa the Order Paper Captain Russell contended this afternoon that if the work was to be properly done there was already sufficient work for a month if nob two. They all knew that the Government did nob intend to keep members in Wellington for more than a month and yet their leading policy Bills had not been touched. They were being kept back and back so as to be fosoed through a tired and weary House at tbe end of tbe session, to be followed at the very last moment by the discussion of tfe* Pubho Works Statement, which was perfeaps the most important business of the whole session. Captain Russell hoped that mem* bera aeated upon both sides of the House would emphatically protest against suoh proceedings. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, September 13. The Labour Bills Committee of tbe Council, this forenoon, reversed yesterday's deoision by which those shops closing on Saturday need not observe the mid-week half-holiday when so fixed by the locafbody. Clearly the Minister of Labour, who ineieta on one compulsory day of closing, has bees actively lobbying. Mr Larnacn, who held the portfolio of Works in the Grey Ministry, is mentioned 'as the probable Minister of Railways. Insurauce circles have been much exercised respecting the Insurance Deposits Bill on the around that the prohibition of limited liability companies would cover tho Australian Mutual, National Mutual, Colonial Mutual, and, in fact, all big offices on the mutual principle,, which would have ;to leave the colony within six months, las the liability of shareholders ie limited to the amount of their polioiee. As the matter has created great alarm, I have seen the Colonial Treasurer regarding it this morning. He authorises mc to state that there is no intention of the clause applying to such companies, and if found it does so wlUbealtered in Committee, Hβ does nob think it does himself even now. >