POLITICAL.

Grey River Argus, 30 October 1907, Page 3

POLITICAL.

(Special To Argus— From Our Own Correspondent;. THE LAND QUESTION

IJOUSE WEARY OF IT

I WELLINGTON, Oct. 3 g. ; The schedule of the Endowment Bill 1 as amended by the 1-remier came on tor consideration in the House to-day and an acrimonious debate ensued With a view to getting particular areas kicked out amendment after amendment was made in this direction, but 'without effect, the Government party for the most part standing by the schedule as- submitted. Some* of the freehold section of the House voted consistently with the Opposition but their vote was not sufficiently strong to turn the 'tables against the Government. The Hon Mr Duncan, ex-< Minister of Lands, made his last protest against the schedule to-night "This is about the tail end of it," he told the Premier," and you will get your ■bill through all right as it is. The South hag,, been unfairly treated, "and [ still say that until 1 am convinced the other way I think Otago has been the hardest hit of any place in New Zealand." Members are getting very weary of the eternal land question, which has now occupied the of the House for so many weeks. Starting with the Graduated Tax, then the long period over the Land Bill, fol- ( lowed by the endowment proposals, and the Native Land Bill is due this week. The Minister oi Lands has made it plain to the House that none of the Native lands, shortly to be thrown open as a result of the labors of the Royal Commission, will be included in the endowment area, and are to ""be made available with the option of the freehold. Parliament has .still a great deal of 'business in hand, and the end of tne session, which under ordinary, -circumstances would have come this week with the commencememt of the Canterbury Carnival, is not yet in sight, MRSEDDON'S MOTION. .%]EL£iINGTON, .Oct. 29. ) In the House this evening Mr Seddon, during the consideration of the schedule of the' Endowment Bill, moved to reducethe area proposed to be set apart in A^estland [irom 77,000 acres to. 5 1 7, 800 acres fHe maintained that Westland Was contributing too much in proportion to the other districts. Mr Seddon's amendment was lost by 38 votes" to n, . .