MORNING SITTING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13906, 3 December 1910, Page 10

MORNING SITTING.

The House met ai ii a.m. WAIHOU AND OHINEMURI BILL. The Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Bill was passed through the final stages. FRUIT FARMS SETTLEMENT BILL. The second reading of the Fruit Farms Settlement Bill, the object ,■<?/ ■which is to enahle the Government to lease farms of from 20 to 30 acres at Wairanga, -which are now ready tor heing thrown open. the Bill did not pass this session, "the Government ■would have to maintain the farms. Mr MASSEY said that the farms •were not likely to pay settlere, and as there were indications tifiit there were coal deposits there, he hoped the Government would have tests made. . Mr HOGG said thhfc the Bill was a freehold measure, and contained no provision against aggregation. The HON. T. MACKENZIE said that aggregation was not intended, as the Bill provided the allotments should not exceed 75 acres. The land was practically worthless, hut would allow of people with a knowledge of gardening to make a living onr small holdings. Regarding the coal deposit, he would sooner see people working on the surface than in the bowels of the earth. The Bill was committed. At clause 2, providing that land may be set apart for fruit farme, and leased or otherwise disposed of, Mr HOGG moved to delete the latter words, the object being to prevent alienation. The amendment was rejected by 43 votes to 12. Mr HOGG said that if the freehold were given to fruit farmers or settlers it could no longer hewithheld from Crown tenants. The Government had shown its hand freely in this Bill, and he had no further confidence m its land policy. The Bill was reported and put through its final stages. PUBLIC WORKS DEBATE. The Public Works Statement was debated on the motion to go into Committee of Supply on the Public Works Estimates. The debate was interrupted by the luncheon adjournment at 1 p.m.