MINING TOWN LOTS

Evening Star, Issue 17191, 5 November 1919, Page 8

MINING TOWN LOTS

FLUTTER IN THE HOUSE.

THE GTE AROHA LEASEHOLDS.

NICE MOVE WITHDRAWN.

[FhOSI OUR PAB LIAM ENT ARY REPORTER.]

WELLINGTON, November 5. Several “ Washing-up ’’ Bills have floundered into ehoal water over the Te Aroha township leases, members on the Liberal benches invariably showing a suspicion' when a proposal appears in this end-of-the-session measure to grant freehold rights to leasehold tenants of that one-time mining township. Yesterday afternoon Mr Witty was the first to hold up a proposal to grant to the residents and business people of Te Aroha the right to acquire 'the freehold of their sections, and expressed the opinion that the House should not pass it in the “Washing-up” Bill. Sir Joseph Ward ; “ Hear, hear.” Mr Witty; There are 20 or 30 clauses in this Bill, in fact, that should have been local Bills. (“ Hear, hear,” from the Opposition benches.) “ I intend to divide the House on this,” added Mr Witty. “ This clause was thrown out last year.” The Minister of Lands explained that a great many matters in the Bill had been forced in at the last moment, and the Government had no time to investigate them. If members objected to that particular matter, he was quite willing to withdraw the clause. Hon. W. H, Herries: This clause is a result of a Roval Commission.

Sir Joseph Ward: Yes; but it should not be in the “.Washing-up” Bill. Hon. Mr Herries: It cannot be put in a local Bill. It has been before the House for several years; but the reason it was thrown out last year was because it might have raised the question as between freej hold and leasehold, and the National Government agreed not to bring the matter forward. Tuerefore this township of Te • Aroha is differently situated from other ■ townships. It is an old mining township, ! and all that the people in it want to do ' is to convert their mining leases into freei holds. It is a mining township no longer, j and it is ridiculous to retain mining privi- | leges in it. A Royal Commission was apj pointed to inquire into the whole question, and the Commission had recommended exactly what was proposed in the Bill. -

Mr Young: Did the Commission fix prices as in the Bill? Mr Merries: Yes: they were all fixed by the Royal Commission. Mr Merries added the opinion that there was no reason why the matter should not go into the “ Wash-ing-up” Bili, ns it was a land matter. There was no reason why this leasehold should not be turned into a freehold township. Sir Joseph Ward : The question - of freehold and leasehold is not before the committee. Mr Memos; It is in this clause.

Mr Wilford : No; you are electioneer

The Minister in charge of the Bill pointed out that the Commission recommended giving these people a chance of acquiring the' freehold in 1914. Although he was '.rilling to withdraw lira clause, he thought an injustice would be done to the people of Te Aroha, who "had been expecting an opportunity to obtain the freehold since the Commission sat.

Mr Vt itty-. Lots of us are'living* in hopes of getting something we will never get. S:r Joseph Ward : The issue here is not freehold or leasehold, but that a proposal like this should not be put into a “Wash-ing-up ”. Bill. Mr Wilford ; I am in favor of the Te Aroha township having the freehold of its sections. I will vote for the freehold for both Te Aroha and Rotorua it - the Minister will take this clause out of this Bill and bring down a Bill setting-out all the points. We want to be satisfied about facts and prices first.

ilr Young urged that the people of Te Aroha should ■ have the right to acquire the freehold, ibut agreed that the beat way would be to bring in a separate Bill. Mr Payne described as humbug any suggestion that the buildings would be any batter if the freehold were granted. The Te Aroha clause was for the benefit of a parcel of money-grubbers. In justice to the community the land should remain in the hands of the Crown.

Mf M'Combs moved to report progress on the clause.

Hon. D. H. Guthrie said that the pro. per thing was to bring it down as a separate measure. Members : Pull it out.

Mr Guthrie withdrew the clause, with the object of submitting it in a separate