LAND BILL IN COMMITTEE

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

LAND BILL IN COMMITTEE

DISCUSSION RESUMED. Tho consideration of.the Bill in Comniitteo was resumed at 4.30 p.m. Olauso 16 provides that tho holder of a renewable loaso or alease-in-porpetu-ity may pay to tho Government sums amounting to a maximum of .90 per cent, of tho capital value of his holding, and have his rent proportionately reduced. When 50 per cent, of the capital valuo has thus been paid,.the lossce is to bo freed from all covenants oxcept those concerning residence and payment of ront, but may not extract minerals or depreciate tho land., A verbal amendment was. made by tho Minister. Mr. Witty (Riccarton) moved to substitute 33 per cent, for 50 per cent. - This amondment was accepted by the Minister, and adopted without 1 discussion. . Sir William Steward had given no,tico to move that the tenant should he rolioved of all restrictions when his improvements equalled 50 per cent, of the'capital value, or when tho value of the improvements mado, together with tho amount paid off, amounted to 50 per cent, of tho capital value... The Minister said that, taken with the reduction of the porcentago to 33, this proposal would result in the removal of all restrictions' from every tenant. Ho could not accept it. Tho amendment was defeated on the voices. A, Drastic Amendment. Mr. Hcrries moved to omit the words " for the residue of tho term " from Sub-Section 4. This amendment would givo tho holder of a renewable lease, after he had paid off 33 per cent, of tho capital valuo, tho possession of tho land for all time, freo of covenants. . ■ Tho Minister, in declining to accept this, said he admired the drastic charactor of tho amendment, but ho could not see his way to change tho renewable _ leases ' back into' leases in perpetuity.. Mr. Herries said ho wanted to bring the rcnowablo leaso and tho leaso-in-porpetuity into line, and mako them both as much liko the freehold as possible. A division was taken just before the dinner adjournment, and the amendment was lost by 39 to 24: Statutory Conditions. Mr. James Allen moved another amendment to Sub-section 4, with the object of exempting the tenant who has paid off 33 per cent, of the capital valuo of his holding from conditions imposed by statute law (other than those relating to mining), besides those contained or implied in the lease. . The mover instanced . tho prohibition of transfer within five years, and the stipulation as to consent of tho Minister and tho Land Board to transfers. _ Tho . Minister said the- conditions mentioned by the lion, member wore necessary safeguards against dummyism. He could not accept the amondment. Mr. Massey said tho Minister, in his recess campaign, had promised that the payment, of 50 per cent, of the valuo of tho holding would freo the tenant from nil conditions, including statutory conditions. The clauso as it stood would only release tho tenants from certain comparatively unimportant conditions, and it would not bo worth their whilo to avail themselves of it. • Mr. .T. Allen read from a report of a-speech by Mr. M'Nab.to show that tho Minister had foreshadowed the taking away of all restrictions on tenants who had paid 50 per cent, of the capital valuo of their holdings. Ho asked' tho Minister to fulfil his promise. Tho Minister argued from the Land Act, 1892, Section 83, that tho requirements as to consent of the Board to transfers wore conditions of tho lease.

The amendment was negatived by 45 votes to 22. Tlio Crown's Debt to the Tenant. Sub-section 5 provides that the moneys so paid by the tenant shall bo a debt-duo to him by tlio Crown, payable at tlio end of the term of the lease. Mr: Horries said ho 'thought the Bill should contain somo provisions as to the possibility of a tenant raising monoy on this debt. Mr. Major said provision should bo mado to assure that a tenant trans-ferring-his leaso should be able to.obtain the full value of the reversion of tho debt of ,tho Crown. No amendment was moved on this point, and the clause was then passed as previously amended. Clause 17 (provisions as to leases in perpetuity to apply to renewable leases) and Clause 18, which prescribes the conditions under, which tho holder of a lease-in-perpetuity may obtain a renewable lease in lieu thereof, were both passed without amendment. Clause 18 was thon passed unamended. Important Amendment. Mr. Massoy moved to strike out the. first portion of Clause 19, Sub-Section 1, with a view to moving the amendment (a now clause), of which ho had previously given notice. Tho amendment proposed to givo tho ownor of l.i.p. lands under parts 3 and 4 of the principal .Act the, right of obtaining the freehold at the original.value, plus

one per cent, per'annum for the torm on which the lease was held. The tbxt of the amendment' has • already been published. . . ' ■ Mr. Massoy said his'amendment proposed to give tho tenant the opportunity of purchasing at tho original valuo, plus 1 per cent., whereas the Government proposal was to allow tlio purchase at the present valuo. Ho declared that in moving this amendment ho was proposing what ho thought was. for the good of tho country, and lie would go to tho lobby if ho had only one voter behind him. ...«,■ Tho Premier spoke against the amondment on tho ground . that it would result in a very bad bargain to the State, and ono that neither pressure nor sentiment would mduco thorn to agree to. No privato owner would assess the enhanced valuo of his estate at one per cent. .- '_'.-. , Mr. Massey replied to tho Premier s statements regarding -retrospection, and, in the course of further remarks, made it clear that his amendment didnot apply to the lands under the' Lands for Settlement Act.: It applied; only to the leasc-in-porpotuity tenants. Mr. Jennings' -(Egmont) argued in, favour of the conversion at the original value. t Tho amendment was defeated.by 39 votes' to 24. Members voted as folAgainst tho amendment: Messrs: E. G. Allen, Arnold, Barber, Barclay, Buddo, .Carroll, Barber, Barclay, Fisher, Flatman, Fowlds, A. L. p. Frasor, Graham, Gray, Guinness, Hanan, Hogan, Izard, Kaihau, Lauren-

son, Lawry, M'Gowan, MLachlan, M'Nab, Macpherson, Millar, Ngata, Parata, Poland, Poole,' Seddon, Sidejy Stallworthy, Steward, Tanner, Ward, Witty,- W00d.,,. • ' . ■■ . >.' For the amendment: Messrs. J. Allen, Bollard, Dillon, Field, Fraser, Greofislado, Hardy, Hemes, Hornsby, Houston, Jennings,-Kidd, Lang, Lethbridge, Lewis, T. Mackenzie, Mander, Massey, Okey, Remington, Ross, Symbs,■• Thomson, Wilford. Mr. Massey. moved to make the right of purchase -under' Clause 19, apply to 1 land for settlement holdings. This was defeated by 37 .to 29. ... ' Land Reformers in Evidence. , On the question that Clause 19; (tho right of purchase clause) stand part of tho Bill, Mr. Tanner, called for a divir sion. The clause was, retained by 53 votes to 13.1 Those who!voted.against the clause were:—Messrs. B. G. Allen, Arnold, Barber, Barclay, Ell, Fisher, Ilanan, Hogan,, Izard, . Laurcnson, Parata, Sidoy, and-Tanner;" Tho discussion" on Clause 21 (providing for. modification of tho residenco conditions in certain cases), was chiofiy remarkable for tho emphatic denunciation of Mr: Tanner (Avon) of any concession'that would permit town residents to .hold land and livo.away from it to tbo disadvantage of' landhungry individuals. Similarly, 'the featuro of Mr. .M'Nab's reply w.ashis vigorous defence of .the members of the various Land .'Boards. An, amendment, proposed by . .the Minister, to provide that regulations undor Clause 21 should referred to. the' Lands Committee of each House of tho , General Assembly before receivr iug the required sanction of Parliament was agreed to, and tho clause as .amended was adopted by 52 to' 9. ; Tho Minister-moved to add to new Clause 21a, which makes renewable leases subject to' tho provisions of Part 111. of tho principal Act, tho words: "and to ,all other provisions contained in any other Act and relating to leases granted under Part 111. of tho principal Act." Mr.M'Nab explained that this would mako it clear that- the Crown Tenants Rent Rebate Act Would apply to the. renewable leases. . The amendment' was agreed to on the voices, and-tho clauso was added to tho Bill.. ■■: At . 12.50- a.m: progress was reported, on the motion of the Minister, and tho House rose.