HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7913, 30 November 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, November 39. Ths House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated :-~ - 1. That the Naval and Military Set- ' tiers' Land Bill would be brought on this • • session. 2. That no complaint had been received by the Survey Department respecting ' passing work done by village settlers ana: the payments for same before the arrival -of the Village steward. .*. ■ .( '" 3. That a reduction of fnture Judges* salaries would receive consideration, witli other retrenchment proposals. 4. That the intentions of the Govern* menfc with respect to the North Island trunk liae would be, explained in tha Pnblic Works Statement. 5. That the proposals relating to tha Permanent -Artillery and Volunteer force* would be explained in the- defence estimates. 6. That it was customary to allow draughtsmen in the Survey Department, to undertake private work after office} hours, and to discontimue the practice now would lead to much inconvenience. . 7. That it was impossible 'to tax foreign bondholders; if it were possible the Government would be glad to do so. ; , 8. That the question of the supervision; of the means of egress from churches, and theatres was one for the municipal authorities, but the Government would give instructions ox the matter. 9. That the procedure of Parliamentary business would be considered during the recess with the view to mak« it mort business-like, quicker, and more useful. ■ laud bill. The Hon. Mr Richardson moved tho . second reading of the Land Act Amend.- ; ment Bill, which he explained was brourht in by the Government in order to meet • the necessities of the- colony in regard t» • ' land settlement. He referred to the' various systems which had- been brought into force, with results not altogether satis-. - factory. At present there were 14,000,000 acres of open and 6,000,000 of bush land ' available for . settlement. Latterly the law had been bo administered as to discourage cash purchasers, and a mistake ' had been made in placing people on land without capital of any kind.. The four principal features in the bill were these,: The choice of tenure were left to the selectors ; the land was to be classified ; abolition or Waste Lands Boards; and relief to existing settlers. From a monetary point of view the perpetual lease system was probably fclie best, bufc it was completely over-shadowei by the desire to secure freeholds.' Not more than 640 acres of first-class and 2000 acres ! of second-class land could be purchased. t That would avert the possibility of larße ; ) holdings. The cost of the Land Boards » last year was £2210, which the Govern- » ment thought too inucb. Their duties > were to be performed by the Commissioners r of Crown Lands. The bill also dealt with i land belonging to endowed bodies. „ I Dr. Hodgkinson agreed with the bill I except the abolition of the Land Boards, i Mr M'Kenzie (Waihemo) said the bill would upset the whole of the land legisla- ■ tion which the Premier's late colleague, Mr Rolleaton, had brought into effect. He advised the House to look carefully into the various clauses, and it would be found they were sacrificing the future to present necessities. Practically the bill meant that more money was to be obtained for pnblic lands than in the past, for though a selector was supposed to choose his own tenure the whole aim of the Minister of Lands was evidently to encourage cash "purchases. . The debate was interrupted by tha 5.30 adjournment. • .