ENDOWMENT BILL REPORTED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 30, 30 October 1907, Page 8

ENDOWMENT BILL REPORTED.

FRUITLESS ATTACKS ON THE SCK« dWfinduay oh the land bill. "■"■' * The Locative Council'yesterday put the Fire Brigades Bill, which has now become;* purely, permissive measure, through Committee with a minimum of d.scussion. lho Attorney-General . then moved the second 1 reading of the Land and ' Bill: Hc'parried the attack on the Govern- ' • ; mont- for backing down by quoting the . ex- ■■■■ nerionces-of former -. been compelled to make ; Bim.hr difEerenccs between promise and performance, In* he insisted that the Bill"marked a l°"f' st^ f ° " - wa rd than'had been taken ..by..Mr, Rollcston • or Sir John. M'Kenzie.',The debate was pro- . longed throughout an evening, fitting, tnc. othtf speakers', all of whonvgave a . .upporf;&' the Bill, being' Messrs MCa.dle, Paul, and Trask. ; '-~',. ..• The House of Representatives had practically a clear afternoon iriwhich to. deal with • ' the schedule of tho National Endowment BUI. ' ■ 'At the outset Mr ; . Massoy made an attempt -to reduce the area of tho endowments by halt (4 500,000), but his amendment to that ettect ■-. was: defeated. ~ Auckland kmds.were ..then • taken, and each Auckland member,' bogranmg with Mr. Houston (Bay'of Islands), moved in : turn to have lands in his particiilar electorate oxcluded.-but without effect. The divisions in cacli instance disclosed n majority for, the :•'■' Government of nearly two to one. After this rapid progress -was made, down- the list, and '"''by 10.15 p.rii.'the; schedule'was •completed without a .'single amendment having been rc- ' corded. When Nelson. lands weije under discussion some amusement-was obtained at Mr. . Graham's' expanse. -After Mr, Hardy had twitted Mr. v Graham with' inconsistency in . voting against'the. North Island members and - 'then'desiring the areas in his own.district '~ reduced, several Opposition members,-when Mr. Graham's amendment- came to- a vote, left'the Chamber,'and failed to record their votes! The result was tliat only. five; votes. i were recorded on Mr. Graham's behalf. • After the schedule had been reported, the Premier moved a proviso to limit the a'reaof endowments for all'.time to nine million acres:'; The amendment was adopted; .-..arid the : Bill, was, '. reported from Committee] After, then >for.mally putting the Land Tax'and Incbmo Tax Bill through all stages the House adjourned.' ,et the early hour of 10.35. p.m., ' ~-' -~,..