THE LAND QUESTION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 14, 11 October 1907, Page 6

THE LAND QUESTION.

MR. M'NAB'S BILL IN COMMITTEE. LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS 'ON ' % THE CRADUATED TAX. ( NATIVE LAND (I BILL WANTED. , 1 Tho debate in tho Upper House yes- * tciday afternoon on tho second reading of tho Land and Income Assessment ■ Bill was an unusually interesting ono. iTho speeches generally kept on tho ; higher lovels of dobate Tho most { momorablo were tho Hon. J. It. Sinclair's quietly eloquont defence of land taxation and tho Son. H. H. Scotland's unqualified denunciation of the Bill. This voteran senator stood alono as far as the speeches wero concerned. i'All tho others greeted tho Bill with imoro or less of approval. Tho discussion is to bo resumed this afternoon I Sir Joseph Ward's motion to m- , augurato Monday evening sittings gave ' riso to a discussion in tho House of Representatives that lasted tho greater part of tho afternoon To emphasise | -Ins rcquost, tho Premier sketched the business that had yet to be dono bo- „ foro tho end of tho session. If mom-f-bers wanted to get away bj; the end of Novembei, it must either bo Mondaj evenings or late hours. After a mild protest against the gorm-laden atmosphere of tho Chamber and tho lobby, tho Leador of tho Opposition led off f strongly, against any attempt on the part .of tho Government to deal hastily with important measures' at the end oftho session. Much bettor, said ho', to allow'important Bills to stand over till next session. Included in this

' '/'./.'/tc.ategory -was the' Native 'Land ;Laws / Bill, which, it was ■' de}v{jpioredV,;had .not yet been, circulated.; y-.-y .'Messrs/;Herries," A.. L. ,D. / Fraser, ,: 'J-.! Ngata/ and Baume joined,issue in ask-. ;;/"*.' -'-.'.!ing''for early andi!e'fFeotive?legislatiori,' ':!';// and /there/were.- complaints; made that /J'/tpomuc'ji delay had already taken place. //i/!/' circulation/ofthe /Bill..- The : ■.;! ;. i'. Native _Minister and the: Premier. both.:' ///:'//assured the House/that the,'Bill .would ■ //!/) be' forthcoming at no distant date, and - explained'what a ; great /deal of /"'-/^Avbrk:,;was/involved.. in going,!.through, !//!-.v all'',past patchy native legislation: in /-/: ! order, to' produce ! aimproper' arid compre•j:;!:!.'•': hensive measure. The debate was. at : // times .'lively, and showed' that amongst ,:, ; '-: '?'■. th6so ; ;at; least, who. are '-most 'intimate //'/'with native, 'affairs- there' is: a desire ;-.'• '//'for speedyVand,effective reform. Fin- : ally, at 4.30, the Premier's motion wa3 '/////passed, and,the House resumed its con- ,! /„ sideriition of the Land Bill in Com/!::i///'!> mittce.•' At the, instance, of-Mr.'. Witty, ;/ : ■^ari'amendment was'made in'clause 16 r!'..-to substitute 33.'per cent, for 66 per ! / cent.',/'as/.the..,proportion;, of :ithd/',cap_ital; paid by'the holder of a V.;} ,/lease/in perpetuity or; renewable lease '. ,-,-;.-.in'.order-to'/securei--freedom '■ from'-,re- : ! , v strictions. In tho evening the debate '■.."■■ ;. ; centred .. round clause 19 ■ ./M/! (dealing'with .the, right' of purchase). .; .-! /-Mr.f-Ma'ssey's now-' clause to give !the • freehold at'the original value came up for!discussion,,and was defeated."Other ':,/■/-' drastic amendments were, also'moved, v, ."' ibut!• were in,turn .negatived..:, f ■;..";_. /.;,;:,