THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 946, 13 October 1910, Page 6

THE HOUSE.

;■:■ OPlUM■''■ AMENDMENT' BILL^: ■;:■ . ' When • the", sittings: of. the Houso of presentatives were .resumed last evening, ■v The , Opiuih Amendment Bill.'was. , in'tro-: du'cedy andi read a first time.;. , ]■'/■'.. TWO' IMPORTANT "MEASURES.: The Commercial. Trusts Bill and., the Secret 'Commissions Bill were ; ; reported from '.the 'Agricultural, , •. Pastoral, Stock .and, Commerce Committee, without amendment. :. : ;'.. ■ ."•' -' r •.■.■; . H ; -.\ u . '•. ;[,,:■ ;> LAND FINANCE BILL. ; U Upon the motion for the third reading of the Land Settlement Finance 'Bill, -< Mr. PRASBR.CWakatipu).declared/that the new provisions as- to area and'.'thoso' clearly defining; the liability of individual owners had considerably, improved ' the. Act. ' i -■ ■■ ■■■■■';■■:.■;■'■ ■ ■'■■-. ' •:•■■•:■ i-. .Mr., FORBES (Hurunui) regretted; that there'was no provision in the Bill to coin-' pel ; landowners .'to come: to an agree-, irient'with■ the settlers. ■■ ■■.;'/• ; Mr. BUCHANAN (Wairarapa) .pointed out that every oneof the valuable amend■niehts now in -the 'Bill was urged-on th. e ' Government last session.' >. ■ ; ' "■ .\ Mr. BUICK , (Palmerston; North) 1 said that the Bill would be a great success'if :the" administration.were caroful. Mr. AVITTY (Riccarton).declared that the Bill would not add to the total'.area of freehold land,'although, it sult' in an, addition to the number .of settlers. :■;■ "■■ ■' ".'■' ■ ■■■■ '■ ■■..;■■',":.■:. .'■.' '■ Mr. DILLON (Hawke's Bay) emphasised the necessity for caution in regard to the , administration of the measure. Mr. MASSEY briefly referred to : the Bill, which , he considered embodied a; valuable principle..- • ••'■':. ..■:■.-. : ■. / ' The PRIME MINISTER said that an important provision .was that: _anv agreement made privately 'between individuals must be stated.-The limitation of area was also exceedingly important, arid made ior greater safety. Land for settlement, was not going on as rapidly as it: should because , of the high values placed on the.lands by owners. Some system,would, have' to bo introduced. to compel .owners to put a.fair, value on their .land. :This ought to be done this. session to enable land settlement to be carried out. .-The' compulsory side of .the question: was: indperative as ■ f.ar as the Gtovenrment was concerned. The Government wished ,tb give those who had already formed associations equal treatment with those who will form associations in the future. ' The. Bill was read a third time and 'passed. . ... . '■'■ .. ■ RIVER BOARDS AMENDMENT 'BILL. In Committee , on ;the River Boards Amendment. Bill,; " . . ..." Now clauses were added providing inter alia for the making of financial arrangements on abolition of severance of a dis- ' Mr. BUCHANAN (Wairarapa) moved/ a new clause to tho effect that no proclamation shall, bo deemed. conclusive thatthe district constituted was or is intersected or bounded by any river or livers from tho overUow of ■which damage, may bo apprehonded. His object in doing so was (ho to, meet tho position which had arisen in connection with tho Kahautara River Board. ■', .'.•..' Mr. WILFORD (Hutt) objected to tho clause, chieily on'-the-ground that,it was proposed to have-a retroactive effect.: ■ Mr. WITTY (Rlccarton) thought tho the matter of the Kahautara River Board tapa thp subject oi a, Local Bill. .

The Hon. D. BUDDO expressed the that the clause should not be' 'adopted. : ■ ■ . • TJw clause was rejected by 40 votes' to 21. , . ' . - ... Mr. BUCHANAN (Wairarapa) then moved a clause to the effect that a claim for ■ compensation, in respect of any damage done by the execntioit of any works authorised; under the.principal Act may be brought within a period of three years after the execution of the works out of which such claim has arisen. or may hereafter arise, notwithstanding the provisions of Section.37 of the Public Works Act, 1908. Referring again to the stopbank, which it is pr6posed to "erect m the Kabautara'River Board district; Mr. Buchanan said that. it might happen that there would be no flood to test the works within twelve months—the period at present 'Stipulated. 'The Hon. D. BUDDO declared that if' the clause were adopted few works would be undertaken by river boards. : Mr. WILPORD '(Hutt) suggested that tno term shonld be reduced from three years ! to two years. : He. was afraid Mr. Buchanan might lose all by asking too much.' ■ ■ ~ ;. '■'..• ' '.'.

: Mr. BUCHANAN said he wanted to claim what he could get, but he thought three years wjs a very reasonable period. However, he had put the whole position forward, and had done his duty to his electors. The onus must bo on the Committee. He would accept the reduction, to two years as suggested.. '..•-. On a division, .the ,clause'was agreed to by 32 votes to 31., ;•; .■■.-.•■ . The Bill was reported with amendments, which were set down for consideration next sitting, day. : '• - ';■■.. '■'•'. ■:' ■■■ -. •,' After the Prime Minister had outlined the Government's proposals with Tefer- X ence to water power: development (re-, ported elsewhere), the House, at 03 ; a.m. adjourned. ■■ ,: ■■'.; . ~ - . ■;•.■-.