THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 686, 10 December 1909, Page 5

THE HOUSE.

, NAVAL DEFENCE BILL. SOME LOCAL WORKS REQUIRED , In, the, course of his rtplv speech on the acond reading of the Naval Defence Bill >es rd , a > / mprniilg, the Prime Minister rcfericd to Air Maascvs criticisms of the Bristol tvpo il fi\ Ho Mi il was not suggested that tho fleet m Now Zeiland waters would lie required to meet first-cln<-s b-ittle hips Ho had to =nv 6omo'harsh things ngiinst tho ox traordinarv cntioi«ms of tho Churn unit It should have been admitted thai a tremendous forward movement had been made b\ the con lerenee for the protection of British interests in the Pacifac He had nover said that the «, m ii!"l d Da %-ship was to be stationed in k» uh, ben m l,lO soßgMtion that it should be placed on tho China Stition came iiom tho Admiralty He had never hoard, a more monstrousi proposal than that of Mr Taylor to shift tho cost of the warship from the workers No member of the Ministry would hv Vr & '? mak i flg the statement quoted ex-Mimster Hβ bad never been hysterical in his life, there was no excitement about the making, of fee offer, and nb snch thing surnrSTt ° 5 & d &° n statcd He ™ 2 d , to , h ear Mr Massey alludo to this statement, knowing that it was not a right had bir aln nDy "f 50 ' tho Element that Lsf (U de Was cont I rai T to fact To sug on tho L\ ?7F D ° i strou B movement I™V*1 ™V* r i »f "'her countries that might at w« to a™ be m convict v.th the Old Country 7h«-wiSr S 61 ?? Of t,,e hmts As lowing tne gravity of the position when the offer sfi that tho T?JL"J Wa L had J l3 ? 0 orde «d four addi ffihrf T h,ch wore to -bo pot in

Enlargement of Docks. hr JAMES ALLEN (Bruce) asked what ar talliope dock at Auckland could bo lengthened urei? rt v S ° { % S doct He Previously ftfif ' t , hei s™ e Minister to approach the Wellington Harbour Board td get themT with Government assistance if necossarv, to provide accbmmoda.tion.in the new Wellington dock Dbt °v.1 Iy f ?£ an Indomitable but for a Dread nought , The Pnme Minister had not Z bk V°£ sat, f act °W answ er, and he would Wee to know if any negotiations had since been earned on, and whit the results were likelv to bo ,He wished to know also whether ?W P t?, POE fl i 0 ,1L ake °?I provision, or whether the Admiralty would do so, in regard to repairing, works. A great deal of machinery and equipment had been provided at the Cal Uopo dock that wourd be very serviceable to me Majesty s ves els Also was tho Prime Minister going,to do anything in ropard to t> ?i T? a " nfactare of ammunition ? Would a Bui Be brought down this session on the matter? It was nbt a very safe position to have to. rely .on Jhef trade, routes .fpr.the supply, of wasfel. defence. : Hoime.^roi^sipn.'s.hoflld.!be;made,'by»New';Ze'aland;. combination .with' , Australia, rpr / th.e Kinafiufactu're-,- of -qgmall' ■ arms- and s- this ammuniiion'.-'"''-'^••.'. ■'-. -v ; ..' ; .-.;- v , ;,... ?. •'■ •-,',,, V ;,i:.>. ; en'dprsed theiremarks.-qf/.-Mr:; .that aitpge«tieTi:-to •accommodate Sa'vDreajJnonKht: i:-aesv-tHirbqiir ;R^w^y!:TO!ph; j^^ta^c?.:i'frgm?.t}ie''!c6inspli3ate3 • •.'!"•"/--'.,:•'..■■ "> ■-•"-■■ ■6^gitpHh> J n.eW',dMJgns;ofjl>ra^s!theiGallibpe, ; yftiuld.'vtakeVii jj-' H f aiKsized;' cruisers; . ; Sfat'-;rortlier' : hoped that' , re'prje-'' inrthe'matterr^:>V ■■ V-/' , - >'.- ;, "- 1 . I ' : '".-"-"- 1 "'-' ■ : : ,: ■'>•'.

Force;, of h Vpluhfeiiirj,;;,. , - -Vr ■;'-;-'-. i ; . i; Mr"-^TO^KAtickiana-'East))said;;the. : An"d|.' land Ha|lroUT ( ,BKUrd;.h'a3''cbn?idered : the 'question off the CaUiop r Ancy > very e\lifeWa':^pVacs>.f.biy , -a^naS'.aV-\bftseV , 'and'-.it would beia , :g6odftb'in'g-'fdF'Neif -Zealanch'if'.the eovei'^siiU ; c^iild^is»^tiie'''ATieiclanU'''i'Har- , ' bour ■Bcp)fd > _ i . , .t0/:pu't?fSUci ; '"works , 7'.in.- hand'ias woultl;;,provide ••' sufficient;iaccomraodation'• for this Prime,' Minister,; had ; {cQnsi(iered.'the .matter■ of c&tablisliugV ; *na.ytlHf^olniiiß^s;^ < .AV'.vieryi' large numbir^f;ith6rougtly' ; -jbe/.raised,!.;wjh'o';V6uld\be'!able ■■)'■ to' : take! pirt infaetual"warfare'•'if/iiecessary. , . ■■'. •■ < •■;•'■.: Tfr riPHII-IjlPPS^^aitDniata). thought'' that all the' dockjinc,-facilities:.needed could.'be 'provided the proposal to foririi naval- i'vbluhteers.'j '-"'■.-■■■•'\'''■"■'■■'. • ■"■ :.' : '

■Mr.SJfISSEY isaid the.. Aiickland';HaV--looked', forward: to ;so/altering' thep'rovide'accpmrh'o.dation '.for -decided) tpVhave '".estimates -'ipre--' poih'ted v ont : .thot-while' oar /Indomitable was, qri ihS'.Ghjna 1 ; station.'ith'ere of .docking. Imperial'. GbvernalreadYvin ;: the- Calliope Dock;;':.He - ,,tb;onght,'it A.M+'furnisned. LeipO.OOO towaT,ds'-;t(fe; wst^of;: :i apji)li.ances.,,wh;ich ■ might -It' was .necessary, thatv,the:.Hoiise''snbttld .lie fpfpjrided: with'the informationVasKed*' foT , :;Mt; ;'Allen.': v \ • V '■' ■ V Def ence''of^Coal'JSiippljjsi ; -v.' ifi ;- I ".f;' : ', '■■■ ■';■;,. ; ; ■ %&& .;aeked; ; ,'if *tii' 'had: fpi;.tte;deT f9n<M^of^puri\coal;' / aw[itelies..;' iCvaisSip 'cpuld and.:,destr6r','the':wh'arfilig,,,ac-csmmbiiationptb'-'prevent''.New. -Zealand-'snips' v .:-t%'iv.'- ! that':dangeriwbuld\be lesai-'impprpaht*.%'% r ; J ''■ > .'■ .yn,■/'>■;,'■'■ -'t■' : c\?v'; ! '' ■ S. &i:( tbat..Vjtn.W.'.'.anthp'rities-' ;^puld;,'bH : .:in T f ormed'; .that; : p.Btrbleuin' cpVild'beobteiied/.inv.this.xc'ountry-for.i fuel.;: •.•; ■ J'.HfclJ; '■DU,NC^]|f;'v(Wair a ii);.:'3trongly..;:urged; tne^lams."ofuEictbn'.asjß.;.iia.val f -baJß* -ItVha'd a'/pßanfferipiE'r suffiment' .depth ■: fpr;. the '.entrance', pf'i.the • , man-fif-war', : ;whereaß , : at; the'•'. entrance' W'•: ATickland'-haf bour ; .' therevw'as bhly'-' a denth^ofispta'thbto:- W^;?:,' ■■; ■ 'v'. -> l ;iu^£OP^':^dclclaiid;'W^t)''said' , :that:'tliere was 'iw.atei;'efto jigi'-' ,'in '>A;Ucklana' 'harbour. ■■..". .'A' l\ttle;';reciprqovty? : ttus'; wanted ■ ,'in-: 'i.eonnection .w^th{:the^4'^a.diio^t:'Bft,'Jand\; , -it^.w6 i i4d , '-.be'. tQ , . ! the/.jntQl'^t>of...tntf ppininibn-Jto-deyelopr'a' Bcti'emel'fQr .)tl)Bf,nayalotta.iuirig;of':its :-ypung: :i^invvl|.'liel^aV^;ii.utli6r ; ities i ga»je' | ..NeV'!Zea-: lijn'd'Sev'eYiJiofHthMri'bbsoletei.yesselsUhey could be.'-ppb^iih'se''e^^^ ias "{raining .'ship's.! -;'vi'. "•}., ■';'.> ';.-y\ '',;;'..-;'.,'! '■ .;5 , .; - : : : GEO^^^(A:l^<*^d>^ l (i^tr^iud.;ttβrβ■.■■ '.W4s\!iioi'donbt'T.tfia't!Vthib.' ,, ''Mii}wter.Vfdr' i \pefene!i iK;'sfelei;tiiigyi '.the'; naval ibase'y bad: : ;cli^icei:;j.; ; 'i'^ : v.'vf '/'"~\" J ! : -■"*■'''■"■'

S^eni^t';ib J y?.Sir^sephi\fVa!^.^::,.

ljy*mo6Vr^pt^w^diie/'concerning.'.it ; i-'pii'''.tlie ! jaStfitwbl'-oceayo'ns^'i^'-^hicfl-iheA'Hdd'yyisit^, , , i*lie/iw^):Hom*.--Usi;.r'Ke'" : ;Kjld. communijeat'edicbnfideiitial)y./pn'.tlie'subject,!at th.ej'redjiest bf * the.-.A'dinliraltji. with-'tliefcb&uv inent6.etKe\Aucklaiid:'and l;: WellwEtbn' Harbour' Boards/frA%; AucHand , , had 'been .selected'-'as.' f he': riaValvßaee, ? tliatJwaAfth'p'- place ;wlierey,''-in: :his facilitiee.,'.' ;The' providing sni|a'UA• dpckiVdid';• riot.'lie:-with ,the.. dprern-' merit. "joift'NewZealandi'-but "between ; the ''Adinira't'i'.'A'ncfiajid .•'or:? , .\\ r jellingtbn.V. : ';lf ''Meyt. 'Zealand b'adj'jtP.ne,'ipvfor■': ii[ iniit it dr|.iteelfy.it. ;wp'uld,j of cpu'rse, MayeV liad:'- tp J undertak? r rthißrresponM-" \.';There iwiis'.' h'o'i question ;-,tha't >. tnc ■■' con■•lpngUl'. ', oi.'; ivessel'si.;would liepessitate'.lftji'gjf .idocks in Bll;.paife'.'6f 'Me■'■'E& riitj:v//.:&;.-re&r'd$!to . financinlVresponsibility',' altlio'ngKJit^w.ns;;wil!ing'it'd: of; guns, AaVal Ivoluhtqers;' nnd.'amniiinitipn;;,were'dealt..with'lia.the Inter.Bill.: Thffi matter '6f,'pi^lecting : the cojV.,p6rts.ma'dJlike*ise}.been' borne; in?mind, an'd''A(lrpfral;"Wir;' : W ; ilmot'Tawlces;.hnil' been requested tp make a specnl repprt uppn it The authpnfies at Home did npt nnticiinte the Vtwibihty pf the mt aeion of Nrw Zetland bv a hostile, fleet AH that was considered possible \yns a small r-ud He had obtained an j«sm ante from the Admirilty that in the event of a good supply of, petroleum bomg obtained hero t tho Admiralty ivould take a great deal of its ittj plies from New Zeilnnd As to training ships, th« Gbvernmebt had negotiated in regard to a vessel cemihg put, but it wpuld bo a mistake' tp like some of tho re«els referred to bj Air Toolc Some Further Suggestions v AtJ MAShLI Mjld iJint t leMcUl «l, Uck lan 4 Tlio took a great mteie t jn liofeoce mit lire liri ttiied him to dta'n attenhon to the 1 - . x <> " > \ ' i- - '

ease with which Uangitote Island could be foitided Thw gcntlemm siid tint at i coin pnrnti\eh simll tost the poit mid luibom of ~na could bo m ido ib«olu(el} impitg nable He undtr'-tood (hit the \inmcin Go\ einnient »i« fortif\ing m iMnnd it Honolulu thnt was Himhr to l?ingilo(o fair Toseph 'Wanl s.nd lint ho would bo (jUd to mike tcpusenhtion*' to Hit \dmiralh in the matter Air T I, TULOK (Chnstchurch urijcd that, the *ci lifn should bn mnde more atlractno '•o tint /Jtilandors «liould no longer Wvp it so =oon as thei had their term Mr BtGHVN4\ Wairsrapi) urged that, if it was not too Into the design of the 1 Well ngton dock 'liould ho altered *o that i it would tnke in tho battleship hkeh to visit ><pw /eiland for 6ome ycirs tt> come Mr WHIfiHl CWellington ''outh) asked if the Prime Minister knew if a strav cruder could ".hell Wellington from a position off Island Bi} If tint could be done the harbour defpncc" would not be of much \ilue The PRIME said it v.a? recog nisod thit it could bo done, and probably Auckhnd and Dunedin could be shelled in the ■Mr: THOMSON (Dunedin North): It is not done in the case of unfortified cities The. Prime-.Minister, continuing, said thnt there were rules of warfa'e that should be adhered to He was instituting inquiries into the, reason why Now ZealandeTs left thp navy when their service expired Hp behoved one reason was tint when thev drew thpir accumulated incteasc of re nresenting the difference between British and New Zealand.Tatfes, they found better inducements in a li/o onshore. Mr Hogg's Rcsponsib lity Mr ALLEN urged that if the Dreadnought money were spent on docking accommodation, repairing worts, coastal defence, and the pro tection of our own sea routes, it would be of far more \alue to Great Britain ' Mr. HOGG: (Mastorton) • thought that the money would be better spent on roads and bridges, giving, employment to thousands of men, 1 - instead of being "droppod into the ocean." Mr ALLEN retorted that Mr Hogg, as s member of thp Cabinet, had helped to draw them into thib expenditure He (Mr Allen) had been misled into tho Dreadnought expenditure and so hadi other mombers by tho misrepre Bentations of Mr. Hogg and other members of the Cabinet Sir JOSEPH WAED objected to references being made to matters that had been decided by Parliament Mr HOGG said he had approved the Dread nought offer because it was represented to be a case of very grave urgency, and that the moral effect on other conntnes was likely to be very gra\e Mr Allen Who told you it was a very grave emergency s Mr Hogg That doesn't mattor I belicvo we had it on very good authority If the same- representations were made to me again 1 would not mind voting for almost my ex ppnditure to help the Mother Country Mr. Taylop.Tries to'Put.-Cost on Land.

which refers to the provision of a sinking;/fund' for the repayment' of a 10an, , .■...•".-■.' .■!■■■■ ■' " '■' ■■• •.-.' . ■•"■•-.' i Mi. -TA-JJORi moved an amendment to add these : words:'"provided that the sum required for; such sinking fund shall bo raised by such' an: increase,iih. the: graduated land tax on ' estates, of. a,value of over; jeiO.ooo will provide the;amount required.'•-,-- ; ■" .■•■■'■. /^•...^SEIR,( : Wakatipu). raised ;a point of order, which was,upheld Iby the chairman that "^S "ember had power to move a clause why* would: increase taxation.' ■ - W'-?-^ 1, ? 8;s iy : ? '"ge Part.of the' fund woWfl come from the increased tax on tobacco ffi , •:resist,the -new; tobacco-tax by every legitimate.means.'- ■ ;■; .. ".-.■,•■ ' . P^-iL^ n Hi*'-T tiola > ™ t}l '■ the approval of-, the-Prime. Minister,; a/ new clause was adopted,, providing that -an. annual statement- of the; securities;^ ) which the; sinking fund wm laid -before Parliament wittin,foTirteen,day S '.of;'the>6mmencement-of Caen-session. ...--■ .*■ .'_. -'.- . ■;■< - ■:;: ■'£ ;;o^TKEvrHrnb; reading. • y. : : l: J^ e -^'on'^tte;thi r ;d reading,,. Messrs. Thomson, Wallace),-Eraser (Wakatipu);, and :^, te#u?Hand-;W P s«: ; spoke.agaihsfthe proppssV to form a:'local navy -with Au^rrnlia •Mt.--.Weiß-- (Welllgtof /■ S6uth) "em. P qlr?T de , q ? aOy , ot !^l' ° ■ fI i%. E ? J S£BLL..:(Ayon),- said; :he ..would ■ like f™ J »'Piste-. to. say whether, the feeling, of..the.lmpemKQmference wosj-or was not,' ttat-..the,:.expendituie on the Dreadnought might J have been;,better:devpted to the;strengthening, 7ft» ■^ T '-.M-Koiifli'. Totter & Joseph :Ward;seemed to imply-that in the event .of. trouble the ;Now Zealand ;ships would' be-..withdrawn- to;,;the.China station, this-.country- undefended.,: If were so, e^^eedi^f : / efficion]t: coastal de'.:

Zealand wquld.-haye: hardly.any'interest in the -proposed unit -fleet He' believed .that Australia .was doing..the'-right. thing.-. The'Primo*Minis- ; ter, ;. ; to save his face," hadhad*the unit split ;Up;3betireen- ; .New'Zealand , and the■'. China station tommishing; its I value; \; There, -.would be no ■.national.lEspiration in; the rfleet' unit to'.NewZealand. -All ■ that wasvlmperial iii! it was that the: Imperial Government ■ would,, have * to pay for: the .vessels' on this coast,:'while .New Zei paying- for an Indomitable in the.China Seas. .;•'.■' ■ ■.•■■.■■-•

Mr. BAUME (Auckland East) spoke in support of'.the-Dreadnought oiler and : the naval arrangement made. ..../ . •■-• .■The 'PRIME MINISTER replied at length, cniofly . oh . the . constitutional and general issues. ; He-declared that if he had ■ advocated a; . local navy, insteadof one , powerful,','concrete "British Navy- under, British control, .Mr.: Allen ; would have ■ danced d hornpipo iir condemnation. , ' .■:•', ;. .."■ . ' ■.-

was'.agreed ;; to, and the ■B!J!'.passed;at;9.3o.-p;m.: ... .••■:■.. ■ . - -

\jj) ; HOSpjTALS/BIJLL.^ .! vA'ymessage >as received,stating that for.rcasons^set,'forth' the .Legislative .Council insisted on' the'amtadments-'in'the'Hospitalsand Charitable Institutions "BiU, , --which had. been disagreed;;with)by;the/House.,■ '. ■ -, ■■■■■-'■\-- The {Hon..' G. Fo'wldsV I move'< that \ the' ■ reaspns'vbe" disagreed V ~ :■' ■■.'■'■■'. ' ..'-.' • ; Messrs. .Fowlds, Prasef, 1 -. and - Sidey were ap. pointed , .to' 'confer with'-,thrce; representatives of-the,Council, on the clauses .in dispute. '

■I'■': F.RI.ENPLY SOCIETIES BILL ,'ln ! ni6ving the second reading of the Friendlv Societies'/Bill,' '• ~-■•■ ..■'■..• ■•■'.. . ' . /l'he PRIME MINISTER said he proposed to' drop. Clause:^. , which- hatl 'been strongly o'p-pbsed>by"one'-branch';'6f the friendly societies lastl-yea*:' The: elaiiSo provides' that'actuaries must certify; contributions before registration. The'/Bill^was'.remodelled "on aVr'ecent' British measte. To show the growth of friendly societies in'New-Zealand, he stated, that in-1882, when- the. preserit'lawV-was- passed,' their-mem-bership was .19,210, with funds'.; amounting to £255,781,- the average; capital- being ' £13 V.65.-./W.- ; In' 1908".the , 'number -.was '58,578, witbAtotal- capital J £U123;886,. , ..an .average, per. head of; £WAs. .W:\ : Since:aß9l;.tli«' societies had dispinie'd;- '•,f.or : .;'siok-': Relief ;'ie90*,753,--and''in-medical' attendance' arid ; medicine': ,£856,832, or a:',to£al! i 5tnn' ! 6f.. i e1,761,585 for ,thesevtwo.pnrposM.' .'■ .Considerably,; over' 200,000 .persons -.were receiving- benefits' from, the- societies^,'and! he th'oflgKt the;Hbnse: would agree that every effort' ■hoiild-- b« made .tp'i ettend their .In; its main 1 features the Bill: had been received-, with, satisfaction 'by all .the friendlyoiitiefe. ;•Every-' aspect '..'that the societies in .conference' had:;found .necessaryitaa'd.been- considered, - in , drawing! up ; the measure. : ; >Mf,v.MAgSEy'urgedHhat if the'Bill" was'-to be; , gone- oil;, with:-it ; should .'have been: circu-lated.-.earlier,:- so •; thai- the;, friendly societies might: hive .had, :a' .'-full. opportunity to con-' sidernt. : !-He!was! glad:it had been decided to strike out- Cjause-15, which would have done a great-.injustice to a leading' society.' - The -so-■ oieties '.had .done a.great and good ivork in this .and , other countries, 'and were' worthy of every/encouragement .by. the Legislature ■.Mγ.. JENNINGS '(Taumarunui) said-that the ninin-provisions of the Bill were valuable'in safeguarding the funds' of the societies, which wa3:;the'main-object-of the. measure.

Mr:':WiLFORD (Hatt) said .that, the Prime Minister'would have the thanks of the Druids thrpiighouti.New Zealand ta\ deleting Clmise 15. iwnich .would have seriously affected the iii'the case of.that order. ' Mr. DAVHY (Chr'istchurch East), Mr. Anderson: (Mataura), ■ Mr, Buiek (Palmerston), and othor-members spoke; to , similar effect ' Mr.' POOLE (Auckland West) regrcttal that the; societies.,had noti been able'to see'eye to oye avith ; one .another ,oyer' Claiise 15.. He held a- telegram stating • that • U,OOO . Druids- were prepared..;to. block Clause: 15.' That was 'not desired .by:; the. other-societies, - and he hoped tjiat 'befpre , long, a settlement would be ar i.iye"d ; at-on;this noint by;iho various bodies It; would:,bc. a-pity. if.thn Bill .did 'not ?b through, since-; itovas' ,dcsir«d■>by 'all tho societies., ;.."', '. .".'...',. .-;. •.; ■■: •'^■FR^^^I^STEE;IV reolving; sa id v il .wasjde.sirabi^tu.-Mialro. : Ifcumpulsory tf.it everv ?t. ! :ietv l ,:iho«ld:hAV<i mi adequate or lmtabtthpiis, njj.l tha]v«as .the'intention.of Clause la. . hmee- the..soliiotie-.'could not 'agroe udou' a. : olwsß l ;hwre7H l to^bwSon'

tLn Cr ii tli M Pl; ? S?nt, ' ■W d ' 'would' fOTence! ' C ° nSlder tk<> , mattcr in Coli- . The eecond reading was .passed at 10.40 p.m! ;' . LAND SETTLEMENT BILL. 'qiJfe^ p ? rt AS f '^E? , ?? lit '* e ' on:tlle ' lan ds''for' sidbred. 9 ! !?h:a ion Bai was:then"coa,Mr. JIASSBr. said, he looked upon the rehewitthr^a^'T 1 0^5 tim * Wta»- The fhfiv i i ■ Bl^e i «mi3royenients because tney caused his rent to : f». increased. The system shou d be abolished, • and the .tanants .slould -he pwn the freehold of their lands, blTorh on r his motion ih Committee showed that the Government, in'spite' of their freohold proposals, had backed down, and were now, apparently in full sympathy with tlie leasehold, , opinions they proposod a few ~Mr. ELL (Christchurch South)'.urged !that tftoro was no more generous tenuru than that »™^lrT , « blp lease, . w h'oh,,mado the land in his- ok f aU - v only a f ? w shillings ■Mr. '.ROSS (Pahiatua) said: that -the freenPJ4|rs^ere i not opposed to the leasehold, proTided that the option of the! freehold was given. . l hough a sincere ; freeholder,' as his previous votes, had shown, he had. not been ablo to. .vote .with .Mr.' Massev ; in .Committee,- beMassey's proposal included the 33 years : please, :■ and , contained : ho . provision to pTe Ju nt , o aßßreg , ation ' The - State's, reversion m;,the:33 years^..lease was a very considerable sum, and- the tenant should'be asked to.'.pay something above the original , ' value. . . ■ . >Mr. AVITTY (Iticcarton) said: that had Mr..Masjcy trained his mfetipn difforeiitly, - he would no doubt have caiight a number "ot"the Government freeholders; but not with-siich a motion as.he..had.proposed. ' ! ■":■'.-■..''...-:■-': : ." ■Mr. -EUSbELL.tAvon) *forrcd to: the satis- , factory working; of tho renewaWo 7 lease system in;connection with,Canterbury/College endow , - ments: ■ .;-.. , . ~'■' .. , ■■.- ... ■ ■ .-■'-. .•Mr.-JIANAN :-(lnvercargill).:said ( - he" conld there would-be another opportunity of. dealing with the land question this session not .-only; on- account of; the advanced • state of the■ session, but aUo-on. account of the test diTisions.already taken.. Mr. Hanan: asserted tff subdivided estates, 1 agpfrfejj.itrjon:: tat. ■areaswould follow, and he quoted reports referrinc to Victoria and New-South' Wales>in Eupport fit this- assertion.-, He- regretted- th.at the word compulsory" had been excised in regard to tho.provision for..taHiig.land by the State hear boroughs. Coinpulsion was recognised 'as a ; othor- countries- where the interests ; oMhe/ public required. that tho laud should be.taken. ;-. •' ip ■ -■ ■ . ■ .

I L M Av ,E , mNGS ( TM ™ mi ) pointed ; out that the last four speakers wore all thb owners of freehold land,.yet they would deny tho freehold to - settlors. The conditions in the ,bush 'djstricts of tho North Island wcro very different from, tho conditions:in thes'o members' electorates. As regards the lands-question, they should,go to the country and settle-it. 'Ho agreed,.with -the , necessity 'of: reducing land speculation. . . ■ ■•'. : , ■ •. ;

.Mr.-. M'LAEEN. (Wellington East) the case for the leasehold at some length. - . ■Mr. BUCHANAN (Wairarapa) said lie.hoped the Prime Minister- would remember his-pro-ir.ise tb'haTo certain amendments-made.-inithb-Bill. . The settlers .'paid in rates for tho advantages'of roads and railways,'and the'free?^ , ing process had.led to large development's'of trade, so'that the Government had. hot'the only claim-to tho "unearned increment." Moet of ; the'increment was due to the'.efforts'-of. settlers, , and not to Government: works.. The cry of-the unearned increment was a very/hollow one.:' ' Mr. FIELD (Otaki) said ho had never advocated giving the freehold at the original value, except in, connection with the lease-in-perpet-uity,'andi.thaf was why he did , not vote with Mr. Massey in Committee. ' . '■• •■■'•'■■" . Mr. SCOTT (Tuapeka) wolcom"ed";ariy lease-h6lder-VtO;.address .meetings; in his electorate; Hβ!was. satisfied that lie' would not convert.-his; constituents-to 'the leaseliold. '.-"■" ' "■■

:The PRIME MINISTER, in-replying, denied Jlv.Massey's:statement that the. Government ,iad '"backed down." He was going to try- , , to' assessthe value which wouldbe given away if the option were given to ; purchase tho Crown lands at. the original valimtion.-..,'■ .-■

"Mr. Eus'sell: Five millions undvr tho Lands for Settlement Act. ■''■■' .■'■■■■ _■ "

; 'Mr.'Massey:. Wluch you can't touch.;.';-.".. '.-.'.The-'Prime Minister said he -would.not ,be surprised if tUeamourit was five millions.'

;,Tho Bill was read a thirds time at'l.2o a.m., aud the Honse then' rose, --.. •;' '' :