PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 2877, 9 May 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TUESDAY. WASTE LANDS BILL. The Provincial Secretary moved the adoption of the Waste Lands Bill of last session, with the following add’tion. Before the expiration of any license or lease for depasturing purposes the Board shail, with the approval of the Superintendent, determine whether it is expedient to lease again for depasturing purposes the whole or any part oi the lands held under such license or lease: and if it be resolved that a lease of the whole or anv part of such lands be not granted, it shall be lawful for the Board, at any time not later than six months before the expiration of the license or lease to cause a notice of such resolution to be served on the licensee or lessee, or to be left at his last or lust knovyn place of abode, or with some person resident upon the lands comprised in such license or lease. In the event of it being resolved that a lease of the whole or any part of such lands be granted, such lease shall be subject to the provisions relating to leases of pastoral lands contained herein, be sold at least six mouths before the expiration of the then existing license or lease.

Yesterday. The Speaker took the ohair at two o’clock. OTAGO WASTE LANDS RESOLUTIONS. Mr Thomson resumed the debate. He approved of the additional resolution proposed by the Government. If Mr Tolmie’s resolutions were carried it would upset the whole of the principle of the Land Bill already passed. It was difficult to decide between what was agiicultural and what pastoral land. He was not sure as to the intention of setting apart blocks of agricultural land of ten or fifteen thousand acres. He did not think it would meet the approbation of the Council. The proposal for fencing runs would operate against the introduction of capitalists, Mr Tolmie said the amendments he proposes were not intended to he opposed to the Government, but he did not approve of the resolutions of last year. If they became law the land revenue would be small, and in a short time the land would pass from Provincial control. He would prefer agricultural land being given away to the present system of frittering it away. He would prefer agricultural settlers in localities where schools and churches might be established, instead of the present mode of settlement. The blocks might form portions of three or four runs, and the Crown tenants would receive compensation. The blocks should bo reserved from sale except when wanted for settlement. The penal clause he would advocate was, that every settler should be limited to purchasing 350 acres per annum, and after paying eight halfcrowns in eight years, the land should be his. Outside the blocks, if a person paid 20s an acre, he should be allowed to do so. Snob a plan was necessary to replenish the Treasury. He defended the fencing clause, as necessary to the protection of different holders, and defended the clauses providing that selectors should pay expense of survey. Ten thousand acres could not be found without its being spotted with isolated settlements, Looking at the revenue point, he would rather forego it than adopt a system which would enable persons to take up the best lands without conditions to cultivate or improve them. One condition of the colonising scheme was to enable settlements to be formed on easy terms, and by the lion, member’s plans it would interfere with setlenient under that scheme. Although compensation was proposed, no provision was made to determine the amount. The provisions of the Bill passed last session provided for the arrangements in clauses 7 and 8. He should recommend that attention should be rather given to amending any fault iu the Bill, than introducing new principles. On the question being put, the amendments wer - negatived on the voices. The Hon. Dr Menzies, iu stating he should move certain amendments iu reference to the constitution of the Waste Land Board, said that hitherto it had been framed for political purposes, and its decisions were unsatisfactory. They were not always judicially correct. It would be a great mistake to place the chief magistrate on the Board, and he moved his nama be omitted ; and he would also move, as an amendment, that the Board should not consist of more than five members. Iu regard to the C9th clause, he would propose an amendment that would not so revolutionize the principles of the Bill as Mr Tolmie’s. It would obviate the objection of the committee of the House of Representatives last year. Me would omit section 114 providing for limiting the number of cattle assessed in the Hundred. I he Act of 1869 provided all cattle should be assessed. It was a premium giveu to an idle settler to obtain a living without doiug anything but look after, his cattle ; while it placed the io-

dustrious settler at an advantage over him. The preference, if any, should be given to the latter. If that were agreed to, it would be necessary to alter clauses dependent upon it. He would lastly omit the clauses giving assessments to road districts or wardens of Hundreds to be expended on the roads of the districts. The Government had unfairly endeavored to saddle the cost of collection of assessments on the Hundreds. He would propose that the Road Boards or Hundreds should not be saddled with the cost.

Mr Reynolds objected to the course pro posed by the Government. The usual couise was to resolve the House into committee, to consider the Bill clause by clause. The Hon. Mr Holmes supported the course adopted by the Government. It would be a waste of time to discuss the Bill in committee.

Mr Macassey said that there was political danger in the proposition of Dr. Menzies to empower the Superintendent to appoint members of the Waste Land Board. It was not desirable that he should be a member of the Board. He considered the Council should indicate the officers who should be appointed. Mr Cutten said many experiments had besn tried in the appointment of members of the Waste I and Board, and all had failed. Once twenty-five members were appointed, selected from squatters and small settlers, when their decisions depended upon the interest each side took. Other plans had been tried, 'me of a mixture of Provincial and General Government offices. That worked well. Consisting mainly of the Executive, no doubt the polio- of the Government of the day influenced their their reasoning, but he did not altogether disapprove of that. A non-political Board must be paid. It was a mistake to propose the Superintendent and Speaker. He considered the clause as it stood unworkable.

The amendment was negatived. Mr Macassey proposed the Board should consist of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Collector of Customs, the Receiver of Land Revenue, the 'beriff, and the principal Resident Magistrate of the City. The Chief Secretary disagreed both with the clause and the amendment. All our institutions were political. The officers named in the clause as it stood, being responsible, were more likely to be guilty of favoritism than those named in the Bill. He would be better satisfied if some member would move that the Act be restored to the form in which it pass d the Provincial Council. Mr Reynolds could not advocate the amendment. His wish was to make the Waste Land Board a non-political body. When such a Board was paid, there were no complaints, but when the salaries were refused, complaints were abundant. The system of survey before sale was expensive, as it rendered costly roads necessary. Roads should first be made, and then blocks surveyed. Mr Reid said, at first sight, some of the propositions were acceptable, as proving the present Land Act was not suited to present requirements. Classification of lands was almost impossible, and in the Aot a better rule was introduced. By the 60feh section of the Act power was given to set aside land on deferred payments. He thought that a better arrangement than that proposed by Mr Tolmie. The Bill also provided for opening up blocks on better terms. Ho could not go with him in his views on free selection. He oould not agree to the appointment of the persons named by Mr Barton, for some men, after being looked up in their offices for some time, became so to say fosilised. Mr Barton objected to both the clause and the amendment. He would not consent to remove the control of the lands from the the Council. He criticised the names proposed, and argued that they were all interested on the squatting interest, or appointed by the General Government, Mr Shepherd concurred on the remarks made by Mr Barton. The question being put, are the words after the word “ lands,” in line 3 of the clause were struck out.

The question being put for inserting the words as proposed by Mr Macaasey. Mr Barton moved as an amendment the insertion of the following words in lieu thereof, viz-—“ And of no less than two nor more than five other Commissioners, all of whom shall be appointed and be removable by warrant nnder the hand of the Superintendent ; and the Chief Commissioner of the said Board shall be the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Province of Otago under the Crown Lands Act, 1862.” So restoring the clause to the form in which it was agreed to by the Council last session. Mr a] acaasey’a amendment was then put and negatived; and Mr Barton’s being put from the chair, Mr Eeynolds proposed an amendment upon it by insisting on adding the word “’not being members of the Executive Council of the Province.” This question was lost on the voices, and Mr Reynolds called for a division, but upon the voices being called for after the doora were locked, neither gave his voice nor called for a division. A division however was called for by Mr Shepherd, and the tellers being appointed, several hon. members, who wished to avoid a division, crossed over to the other side, and eventually voted with the “ noes,” as did the mover of the amendment (Mr Reynolds) himself, thus leaving the tellers for the “ayes” alone-or, as put by Mr Barton, “ commanders without soldiers.” This caused considerable discussion, involving “ points of order," but at length it was resolved to enter the division as—ayes, 3; noes, 27. The debate was then resumed on Mr Barton’s amendment as moved.

Mr Macassey would just call the attention of the House to the fact that the clause, as brought down by the Government, was exactly as amended by the House of Representatives last session. He would like to know, therefore, what good could possibly com 3 of flying in the face of that body by undoing what they bad taken upon themselves to do. He thought such a course would go far towards prejudicing the prospect of the Bill pa .sing at all when again sent up for the sanction of the Assembly. Moreover, as the Government in their own resolution had expressed themselves as pleased with the Bill as it passed, and had even asked the Council to join them in that expression of approval, he was at a loss to understand how they could now depart from their own resolution, and vote for an amendment upon it. The Provincial Secretary, in reply to Mr Macassey, stated that the clause as it was now proposed (by Mr Barton) to be restored, was actually passed by the House of Representatives on the second reading of the Bill, and only altered in the Waste Lands Committee by a majority of one to the form in which it was how brought down by the Government, As to the seeming inconsi^t-

ency of the Government in appearing to favor the amendment, they had and would exercise it—an individual right to exercise their own judgment, and to vote accordingly, upon any amendment proposed by any hen. member, even if it should be upon their own measures. Mr Barton’s amendment was then put and carried on the voices, and the clause as amended, put and agreed to. On resuming the sitting, after adjournment for refreshment, the Waste Lands resolutions were proceeded with, and most of the clauses were passed. SHIRES BILL. Rapid progress was made with the Shires Bill in committee, which may be considered to have virtually passed. THE WINTON RAILWAY. On the motion of the Hon. Dr Menzies, it was resolved—“ That the consideration of the papers, contracts, &c., of the Winton Railway be referred to a Select Committee j such committee to consist of nine members, namely, Mr Barton, Mr Bastings, Mr Bathgate, Hon Mr Holmes, Mr Hutch.son, Mr Lumsclen, Hon, r M‘Lean, Mr Macassey, and the Mover ; to have power to call for persons and papers, and to report in fourteen days.”