PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

Evening Star, Issue 12927, 25 September 1906, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

The weekly meeting of the Dunedin Parliamentary Union was held last evening, Mr J. B. Callan in the Speaker's chair. After Mr Clayton's motion re the Reciprocity Treaty had been seconded, and some discussion had taken place upon it, the Leader of the Opposition pointed out that this motion was having precedence over measures which were before it in the notice book. The motion, therefore was not put to the Souse, and the adjourned debate on the Land Bill was resumed.

Mr R. Eergusson (Selwyn), in supporting the 831, said he agreed with the principal, parts of the measure, but there were some clauses, he objected to. He did not believe in the Freehold system, and his most vital objection to the Bill was that it gave men the right to become freeholders. Under the Land_ for Settlements Act the tenant had no right to aajuire the freehold, but under this Bill they gave him lie right to purchase it. This was the worst feature in the Bill.

Mr W. Sivertsen (Franklin) was very pleased to hear members state that the Bill was not a solution of the Land Question, but he considered it was aafoundation which would, ultimately lead to a solution. To solve the Land Question (and the Labor Question) rent must be eliminated, and there was no statement in this. Bill to show how the Government would receive .the rents. ' *

Mr J. Sykes (Kaipara) said the Bill contained certain principles which were in advance of those at present in existence. Everyone condemned the 999 years' lease, and by this Ml they were making an attempt to break it up. It was impossible to bring in a perfect measure, but he considered the Bill would improve existing conditions.

Mr M. Cohen (Westland) considered that the policy of the resumption of lands had been a huge success, and would be the means of remedying the present evils. Mr W. G. Hay (Invercargifl), speaking in support of the amendment, said the defect of the Bill was that it did not distinctly assert one system of tenure in the colony. He considered that the freehold was the proper system of tenure.

The Premier (Mr W. S. Bedford) said they were now at the last night of the session, and the amendment was evidently brought in to bloek the Bill. He considered the Bill was one of the best attempts to deal with a difficult question. - Mr A. D. Aitken (Ashburton) held that the amendment was quite justifiable. Its office was to censure the Government for bringing in a Bill of fallacies and compromise. The Land Question must be dealt with by straight-out dealing. This Bill was a clog on the wheels of progress. Mr R. Gilkison (Maxsden) was not a strong party man, and found a great deaJ in the Bill he heartily approved of. It was undoubtedly a compromise, but every Land Bill, had been a compromise. This could not be avoided.

Mr A. EL Burton (Mastcrton) would not support the amendment.

Mr W. H. Warren (Minister of Lands), replying, said the system of taxation was wrong, and the existing land policy was the means adopted to bolster up the bad system of taxation. There was only one proper system of land tenure, and that was the one by which the iisn should own the soil himself.—(Applausd.) In drawing up a Land Bill they could not please everybody. He would be a wise man who settled the land problem within the next century." The amendment was carried by 14 votes to 12,.and the Bill thus .killed..

—Miscellaneous.—

This being the last night of the session, the subject of a social reunion came up, and Mr Sykes moved that a smoke concert be held within a week or two, the Council to be instructed to arrange the details. The motion was seconded by Mr Aitken and carried unanimously. Yotes of thanks were tendered to the Speaker (Mr Callan), the previous Speaker (Mr Barclay), the Deputy Speaker (Mr Cohen), the Managing Committee, the Clerk of the House (Mr Coutts), and to Mr Moss (who had printed the Order Papers during the session). The House then adjourned, having completed a most successful session, lasting over a period of five months.