MR. PYKE M.H.R. IN PARLIAMENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 919, 28 November 1879, Page 3

MR. PYKE M.H.R. IN PARLIAMENT.

Mr de Latour’s motion in reference to the classification of lond. Mr. Pvke thought the Minister of Lands had not read this motion with the care he usually bestowed on other important matters. 1f he would read it again, he would see that it only asked that the classification should take place twelve months before the expiry of the existing leases. It did not ask that the classification should be made now.

Mr. Rolleston.--It asks that the Com missioners shall be immediately appoin ted.

Mr. Fyke —They were to he immediately appointed to classify, but the land was not to bo sold until twelve months before the expiry of the existing leases. And it was desirabe that it should be so, because it was certain that the land would fetch a better price than if sold after the leases had entirely run out. The leases in the Maniototo County, and in the county adjacent, expired in 1882—in fact, some of them expired in 1881, and one in 1880— and it was desirable that the classification should be made, not with undue precipitancy, but with all convenient speed. It was desirable, if only for the purpose of setting the minds of the people at rest. The people of Otago had been so strangely dealt with in the administration of the land laws in the interior of the province, that they had ceased to have any faith in the administration cf the land laws. They sail now, “Give us some assurance that the exifting law, as placed on the Statute Book, shall be carried out on the expiration of these leases. Let us be quite sure that we shall no longer be troubled with these juggling fiends, That palter with us in a double sense, Keeping 1 he word of promise to the ear To break it to the hope.” There had been too much of that sort of thing in the past. The restrictive land laws of Otago had been of such a nature as nearly to depopulate the interior, and, unless strong measures were taken, before the

expiry of these leases, to prevent the recurrence of the same sort of thing, ho ventured to say the country would revert into its oiiginal state and become a howling wilderness. The Government should therefore—he did not say immediately, hut assoon as possible—have the land classified; and, if they did that, they would afford far more satisfaction to the people of the part of the country from which he ramo than they would by any theoretical amendments of the electoral laws. He intended to move an amendment to the motion, which he trusted the mover would accept. He would propose that, after the word, “Maniototo,”the words, “and the County of Vincent” be inserted, and after the words, “ Blackstone Hill,” the words Black’s, Alexrnd. a, Clyde, and Cromwell,” be inserted. The nature of the two counties was very similar, and they comprised about one and a quarter millions of acres of lands which wee purely pastoral, and could not he tied for any other purpose. Mr De Lantour had no objection to accept the amendment. SUBSIDIES TO LOCAL BODIES. Mr Fake said that in the County ot Vincen arrangements had been made extending the expenditure over a period ot years. At present the County was committed to contracts amounting to L 30.000, and if subsidies were discontinued where was the guarantee that they would be provided with funds? The Act provided that these subsidies were to extend over a period of five years, and on that understanding very heavy obligations had been contracted for. The proposal for a discontinuance was eequivalent to a proposal for repudiation on the part of the Government. Considering the part taken by the Treasurer m bringing the Counties Act into force, he ought to have been the last to make such a proposal. The virtue of the Counties Act was that it left distiict works to be {dealt with by localities, and did not trouble Parliament with such matters ; but this proposal was practically stultifying that proposal. Subsidies were not the best way for providing for the wants of counties, A belter mo le would be to set aside the laud fund fur that purpose. Be that as it might, some provision would have to be made, and it was for the House to insist on a definite assurance being given. On his part he blamed the Treasurer for his attemptlodiscontinue the subsidies without giving the counties notice of his intention, The counties should have had at least twelve mouths’ notice of the proposal. He denied the right ot tie late Government lo take the land fund and appropriate it as consolidated revenue. The fund should be applied for the improvements of comities and to the other purposes. He concluded by moving a" an amendment to the motion for going into the Committee of Supply—“ That the proposal of the Colonial Treasurer be not absented to re removal of subsidies to local boards until an assurance is given that provision will he ma’eforan equivalent to subsidies proposed to be sbohdied.