THE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 257, 23 July 1908, Page 9

THE COUNCIL.

BURNT-OUT SETTLERS.. Tho Hon. W. W. M'CAEDLE moved, in the', Legislative Council yesterday afternoon: "That the • attention of the "Government bo called; tb" ? tlie ; long delay' in extending relief to a;nvmbov,'of. sottloi's : who' met with; heavy -losses through the great fires' that "swept/alarge (portion : ~6f.the newly-settlod King Country.", 'Tho ■ mover stated ;that many; settlers were, unable to take "advantage of'.tho prompt; and : tim6ly'iaaiistaiicq;.of the Government in . supplying grass/seed'on' easy.'terms, and although. vtfi'e",'Auckland' Land. Board granted relief. by' 'remitting reiit to - some > settlers cases, that were said to bo; more deserving and . that h'adl received' promises of relief from the. Commissioner of Crown Lands had been overlooked.- ','He was aware, that the question''of' rebate of rent was . entirely .in tho hands : of "thoMVasto Lands Board. Soma of the settlors might havo been left out when rolief was granted owing to their supposition that they did not require to make an. application. He referred to.one particularly unforfcunato- caso of a man who had lost'.everything, and could not oven pay the fees ; ; necessary -when••'applyingfor a loan.; His'application wis consequently refused by the Laud Board. r He hbped the' resolutionwould ,be forwarded to the Auckland Land Board." ' • V". ;■ • v:'- :: ■ Tho ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Hon. Dr. Findlay)' said,'-that the Government, 1 in ; as- ■ sistin'g the'- settlers,'. acted with as much promptitude' as- possible. ' 'It was, of course, quite, in accordance . with the Socialistic policy of the' 'Government' now in • power—(Oh!;. oh! | arid laughter)—to grant such relief, especi-/ ally 'to. people!, who. strongly, disapproved of Socialism. "This' was as purb and direct a piece of State -Socialism as any.that had been .effected <in Nefr Zealand." Tho Govern-.meiitriil'such,'cases'-'was not. going -to 1 b6.1 bound- by any straight-laced theories of Con-servatism,-but' was going to do.its best.for'i any class that needed assistance. .If settlors did : not.'makO" application for 'remission of rent,, that. Avas.. their .-own fault., : As; soOn 'as the Crown Land; Boards madc : recommendations -for- remissions ' of rent to 'these- people the, necessary amounts would be placed on the Estimates. . .. . . , The Hon. W. "U r . JI'CARDLE said some sf the settlers 'did - not' apply for grass seed ijccausd' thby - would' liavo boon required to state''tliat'- 7 they. ; were 1 "financially'' nnablo' to procure' : i6: could "not truthfully saj; that/.M't lio. consi'defed 'tllat'.sihce~tliey ;hsdto wait-:'four months ' whilei • tho' .grass was growing'-before "'they,' could stock their land, that they/were' entitled to some, relief. Others had thought that, after the Commissioner of Crown Lands; visited thoir ' places and promised'relief, no application was necessary. He. recognised the promptitude shown by tho Government.. . ' , ' The' .motion was; carried., POSTPONED. Tho : : A-TTOBNET-GiiNERAL (Hon. Dr. Findlay) said ho wished -to move a" number of amendments to tho Incorporated Societies Bill, but as they woro. not .ready he asked that,the committal of the Bill bo postponed. This, y.-as agreed to. ■ Tho committal-' of ' tho Law Practitioners 'Amendment Bill' was postponed' and sot down for July£3lj 'as .the'- Attorney-General stated that'ho Mvi'shed -to VliavG"''certain clauses redrafted, Ho' had 'received communications from' law v ;studohts.- oil ;'th6 subject,:asking that their interests should be safeguarded. . " ' _ Leave to. recpmmit. tlio Now Zealand Society ,of Accountants. Bill on a future date, in order; to.. enable;.' the -.Attorney-General .to move; amondmonts,-was granted.. .. BILLS PASSED. Tho Hon.' -.W." G. I l '. Carncross was appointed Chairman of-'Committeo in tho_a£>sence of the Hon. 11. H: J. Reeves. " . The Inforior Courts Procedure Bill, the 'Acts . Interpretation "Amendment Bill, and the Town Boards Amendment Bill were put through committee without amendment, read a third, time,..and; passed. The "Council ,> at 3.15 p.m., adjourned until Tuesday^- next.