THE LAND BILL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12935, 15 October 1907, Page 7

THE LAND BILL.

PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE,

(press association telegram.)

WELLINGTON. October 14

Tho Hous© of Representatives this evening resumed consideration of tho Land Bill in Committee.

At clause 39—""With th© consent of the Minister tho Land Board may permit the holder of any pasturage lease or license under part G of the principal Act to cultivate a portion or portions of his run for the purpose of growing winter feed for tho stock depastured thereon, and also to plough and lay down in grass, or clear, burn, and sow in grass, or surface-sow in grass, an additional area not exceeding 3000 acres, such additional area to be specially valued in the 6amo manner as is provided by section 207 of tlie principal Act at tho termination of the lease or license, and tho value of such improvements as determined by valuation to be paid over by th© incoming Jesse© to th© outgoing lessee aa is thereing provided, notwithstanding that the limit of compensation proscribed by that section may bo thereby exceeded,"

William steward moved to striko out tho won Is "not exceeding 3000." but h© subsequently withdrew th© amendment.

Mr Flutman then moved to insert after "Not exceeding."' th© words "Except in the case of clearing, burning, st wins in grass, or surface-sowing in grass." Ho contended that ploughing iv theso cases had proved a failure. It destroyed the tussock and mado it necessary to plough every threo years.

Mr "Massey urged that runholdera should not bo limited for this purpose to 3000 acres, as they could not frame a clause to meet all parts of th© colony. In the North Island it was absolutely necessary to plough before sowing for grass. Mr Rutherford urged that great gnnd would bo done by grassing the biuU country. For theso runs what was required was reasonable security of tenure, with periodical improvements. Ho contended, however, that so far as ploughing was concerned, the less this was resorted to, th© letter, ns experience had proved that tho grass died down in thro© years, and left tho ground in a worse condition than beforo ploughing. Mr T. Mackenzie said great ( benefit would b© derived from grassing the back country.

Subsequently, with the permission of tho Committee, Mr Flat-man altered his amendment so as to limit the area which a lessee may plough and sow in grass to 3000 acres, aud to remove the restriction of area in -regard to clearing, burning, and sowing in grass, and surface sowing in grass. The amendmednt was agreed to on tho voices.

Mr McNab moved to strike out the words " notwithstanding that the limit of compensation prescribed by that section may be thereby exceeded," and that the following words be substituted, " in addition to the value of improvements provided for by that section." This was agreed to on the voices. Clause 39 as amended waa agreed to. Clause 40, relating to the depasturing of stock on Crown lands, was carried by 64 votes to 14. Mr Poland moved an amendment to sub-clause 1 of clause 40 A, to provide for leases for flax growing, cutting, otoy being for a term of 21 years. The amendment waa rejected by 46 votes to 20.

Mr Massey said he thought the rental should bo fixed by arbitration, in tho case of an old tenant renewing his lease, and by auction in the case of a new tenant. He moved that the rent be fixed by arbitration. The amendment was negatived by 48 votes to 18.

Clause 40a wes then agreed to. Clauses 41 to 46—machinery clauses— passed' unamended.

At clause 47—"Tho Board may, with tho consent in each case of the Minister, dispose of any Crown lands by way of sale in fco simple as a sito for a dairy factory, cheese factory, fruitpreserving factory, or creamery." Sir William Steward moved to add the words "church, manse, or parsonage, and for a glebo in connection therewith, or for any other purpose which in the opinion of the said Board and the said Minister renders such a sale expedient in the public interest." This was agreed to on tho voices. Progress was reported on the Bill, and the House rose at 0.10 a.m.