TWO REFORM BILLS. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3996, 29 July 1913, Page 5

TWO REFORM BILLS.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

SECOND BALLOT TO GO. fr UPPER HOUSE MEASURE. MAY BE BLOCKED AGAIN. [BY TELEGRAPH—PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT! WELLINGTON, July 28. The Government intends to bring down an Electoral Reform Bill dealing r with the constitution of the Lower House, this session, so the Prime Minister informed your representative today. What the nature of the preprsals contained in the Bill would be, Mr. Massey declined to say, but he intimated that an announcement on the subject would he made in the Financial Statement. One feature of the Bil 1 may h 3 taken for granted since the Government is pledged to repeal the Second Ballot Act. As to the new electoral system to be adapted, two proposals have figured prominently in such discussions on the subject as have taken place among members in the lobbies. One suggested system is that of preferential voting in single electorates, which wou'd practically mean taking the first and second ballots at a single poll. Failing tins, it has been suggested that proportional representation might he established in tne- four chief centres, the present system, minus the second ballot, being allowed to eland meantime in the' remaining electorates. The connection between elector a. reform of the Lower House and reform of the Legislative Council is becoming interesting with passage of time. The belief is gaining ground among members of both Houses that the Legislative Council Reform Bill is likely to meet verv much the same late at the hands of the Upper House as it met last year—that is to say that it may he read a second time, but blocked on the motion to commit or m committee. Some members of the Council profess, to believe that there is co particular reason why the Bill snould be allowed to pass in its present form, apparently ignoring the fact that the Government has announced that the Bill embodies its policy. Proceeding from this view of the matter, one ct the Councillors mentioned contended in conversation tc-dav that sitting meirfbers of the Council had a recognised right under ordinary circumstances to be reappointed at the end ct their seven years - ’ term. It is sare_state that this contention is a noverty which is not at all likely to be recognised bv the Government. Prominent members of the . Reform Party to whom it was mentioned agreed in ridiculing it as an absolute distortion of the true position. The keynote of the existing situation is the fact that by January n twelve members of the present Council will liave retired by effluxion ox time. Two others will have retired by J-by 1. 1914. Thus if the Reform Bil should be again rejected, and. the Government elects simply to ‘‘sit tight, a considerable proportion of its opponents will disappear from the Se.d m the ordinary course cf events beiore the final session'of the present Parliament' has well begun. At worst a small percentage of the new applicants which would be required to carry tne Bill in face of opposition this year would suffice to carry it in 1914. Another point worth noting is t;:atthe Government has been assailed ty its critics in Parliament for alleged.y commencing constitutional reform at the wrong end by beginning with tiie Upper House. As events are new shaping, it appears possible mat- tne Government may have intended ai along to take the constitutional reforms in the order which its cppbnents liave declared to be the rignt- oiu.

PROGRAMME FOR AUGUST TOTAL OF 23.602 ACRES. [BY TELEGRAPH—PAELIAMEXTAET CORRESPONDENT"! WELLINGTON. Jxilj 27. The areas of land advertised for disposal during the month of August, bv the Lands Department total 23.602 acres, comprising in all 169 holdings. The bulk of the land is in the Auckland and Wellington land districts, which together account for over 17.000 acres of the total. The summarised statement gives the following partieuuars: Auckland district. —21 optioned tenure holdings comprising "216 acres; nine renewable lease holdings containing 3114 acres, S 4 sections to besold by auction containing 212 acres and one Education reserve of 2-0 acres, making a total of 11-0 holdings and 8622 acres. Hawke's Bay.—One optional tenure holding of 61 acres and two renewable leases viand for settlement) blocks containing 970 acres, or a total for the district of 1031 acres in three h.doings. Wellington.—Eight optional tenure holdings containing 77,6 acres; eleven renewable leases comprising' 1150 acres: and six sections containing ■' acres, making a total of 2o holdings and S 9-59 acres. Nelson.—Ten reserve leases containing 211 acres. Marlborough.—Two optional tenure sections containing 621 acres ar.d one reserve lease containing 956 acres, or a- total of 1607 acres. Canterbury.—Three renewable leases (land for settlement) contacting 1405 acres. Otago.—Nine renewable leases (land for settlement) convaining 1416 acres. Southland.—Oue education reserve of 351 acres. The lands so far advertised for posal in September comprise Tn 3 acres of renewable lease (land for seAtement) in Otago and IS.3AS acres in <o optional tenure holdings and one renewable lease holding of 26 cues m Southland.