THE LAND BILL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12896, 30 August 1907, Page 9

THE LAND BILL.

PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE.

(special to "the press.")

WELLINGTON, August 29. The minutes of the proceedings of the Lands Committee, which have now been circulated, show what took plaoo *.t the meeting of the Committee in respect to the question of including tno lunds for settlement lands in Clause 19, which piovides for the option 01 the freehold to owners of .leaaes-in-perpotuitj. At the meeting of the Committee on July 3let, Mr Hall moved to make tiv privilege of acquiring the freehold apply to holders of leases-in-perpetuity under any Act. The amendment was carried by 8 votes to 5, the voting being:—Ayes: Messrs W. Fraser. Greonslade, Hall, Lang, Lewis, Macpherson, Remington, and iSymes. Noes: Messrs McNab, Mills. Hogan, Lawry, and Witty. Mr Lang moved to strike out the words '"at the time of purchase thereof," in the paragraph relating to tuo proposal that the freehold may be acquired at a price equal to the capita; valuo of tho land at the time of purchaso thereof. This was lost by 6 votes to 7, the voting being:—Ayes: Messrs W. Fraser, Greenslade, Lang, Lewis, Remington, and Syines. Noes: Messrs McNab, Mills, Hall, Hogan, Lawry, Macpherson, and Witty. At the next meeting it was agreed by 10 votes to 3 that the clause as amended by the carrying of Mr Hans motion should stand part of the Dill, those voting in tho minority being:— Mesers Ell, Hogan, and Lawry. On August 2ist the clause was recommitted, and Mr Witty moved to strike out the words "under any Act,' , which had been added at tho former meeting. This was carried by 8 votes to 6, the division being ua follows:—Ayes: Messrs Duncan, McNab, Mills, £11, Began, Lawry, Remington, and Witty. Noes: Messrs Fraser, Hall, Lang, Lewie, Macpherson ; and Symea. The words were accordingly struck out. Mr Remington moved to make tno freehold available at an advance of 60 I>er cent, on tho original valuo. ' Mr Lang moved to substitute 25 per cent, for 60 per cent. Neither proposal was carried. The question as put was that the words "an advance of" should be added, and this was lost by 11 votes to 3, tho voting being:—Ayes: Messrs Lang, Remington, and Symes. Noes: Messrs Duncan, McNab, Mills, £,i. Fraser, Hall, Hogan, Lawry, Lewis, Macpherson and Witty. This division itfujcecd of both the 50 and 25 per cent, proposals. Mr Lung then moved to strike ont sub-clause 14 of the clause which reaus: — "The provisions of this section suaii :iot npply to land which is subject to tht> provisions of the Lands for Settlement Consolidation Act, 1900." This amendment was rejected by votes to 5, the voting being:—Ayes: .ilesers Fraser, Hall, Lang, Lewie, antl oymes. Noes: Messrs Duncan, AicS&b, Mills, Eli, Hogan, Lawry, Mac;lierson, Remington, and Witty. Ihr result was that the original clause wat letained in its entirety.