Parliament

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 235, 11 September 1924, Page 5

Parliament

House of Representatives CONSOLIDATING MEASURE. RELATING TO CROWN LANDS. (Per Press Association). Wellington, Sept. 10. The House oi Representatives met at z.jO p.m. Replying to Mr J. R. Corrigan, the Hon. \V. Nosworthy said he would be pleased io have an investigation made oy officers of his department into the merits of a blackberry eradicate!* reported from Patea. If the reports were favourable the Government would be prepared to give the matter further consideration. LOAN BILL. In reply to the Hon. J. A .Hanan, Mr Massey said there would be a loan bill this season, but he could not say wnat the amount would be. That would depend on the requirements of the country. The loan would be raised in Loudon, probably about April or May next. On the motion of Mr A. L. Monteith, the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill was introduced and read the first time.

GAMING AMENDMENT. On the motion that the Gaming Amendment Bill be introduced, Mr L. M. Isitt said that if the Premier would adopt the suggestion that the question of permits be referred to a committee of the House, on which all section were represented, he thought some of the objection to the bill would be removed. The bill was read the first time. (The provisions of the bill are reported elsewhere). ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. The Hon. J. A. Hanan asked leave to introduce the Election of Ministers and Party Government Reform Bill, which, he claimed, would eliminate some of the bad features of the present system of party government. In the days when there were only two clear parties the position may not have been so bad, but the present tendency was to introduce the group system into the House, and Parliament might be so constituted that it would be unable to do anything. His bill would ensure that Parliament would be effective and in consequence respected by the people. An academic discussion on the subject of an elective executive followed (as reported elsewhere), and eventually the bill was read the first time. SUNDAY FISHING. On the motion of Mr L. Mcllvride, the Sunday Fishing Bill was introduced and read the first time. The promoter of the bill explained that the measure was designed to prevent fishing on Sunday for trade purposes. Sunday work was a grievance of Napier fishermen. OTHER MEASURES. The Licensing Amendment Bill (Mr W. H. Field) was read the first time, as was also the Unemployed Workers Bill (Mr P. Fraser). The Hon. G. J. Anderson said that so far as his study of unemployment went, lie was of the opinion that there were not sufficient unemployed in New Zealand to warrant the tremendous machinery required by this bill. The Agriculutral Bank Bill (Mr T. M. Wilford) was introduced and read the first time. In reply to the Premier, Mr Wilford stated that the bill was exactly the same measure as he introduced last session.

THE EVENING SESSION. CROWN LAND LAW. When the House resumed at 7.30 p.m. the Hon, A, D. McLeod moved the second reading of the Land Bill. He said Hie bill was a consolidating measure relating to Crown lands alone. The special provisions of amending Acts relative to settlement lands were not included and were excepted from the schedule of repealed enactments. The consolidation of Land for Settlement Acts was in course of preparation. The majority of proposed alterations were for the purpose of removing anomalies or for simplifying administrative machinery. The most important of the alterations were the result of the deliberations of a conference of responsible heads of departments and there were new additional alterations made by members of the Lands Committee. He then proceeded to explain in detail the alterations made, which in most cases were changes in language rather than in policy. LANDS COMMITTEE’S VIEWS. Mr G. W. Forbes explained the views of the Lands Committee on the alterations made, most of which were aprovped. He thought the time had come when the rent free period to those occupying bush and sWamp lands might be extended to ten years. He also stressed the necessity of the Ministr hardening up on fhe residential conditions in connection with Crown lards, arguing that unless this were done settlers would not remain, as there was always a tendency ~ tor people to drift towards the towns. Further, there was always greater difficulty m getting people to go into the backblocks if there were no neighbours near them. He contended that holders of pastoral licenses should receive a rebate for the prompt payment of rent, as was given to ther Crown tenants, especially considering the difficulties under which they laboured. He did not believe there were any catches in the bill, but it was an honest presentation of the policy of the Department so far as plain, language could state that policy.

The Hon. D. Buddo (congratulated the Minister upon effecting the consolidation of the land law, which with its would provide better means of settling the lighter lands of the Dominion.

Mr K. 8. Williams urged the broadering of clause 40 dealing with fires on Crown lands. He urged that settlers bordering on Crown lands often must light fires and if these fires damaged Crown property in assessing damage ja Magistrate should determine whether the fire, when lighted, was necessary or whether it was an act of carelessness and assess/the damages accordingly. NATIONAL ENDOWMENT LAND. Mr F. F. Hockly urged the Miniter to deal with the tenure of national endowment land once and for all by granting occupants |the right to acquire the freehold. He also urged the Minister to give careful study to the problem of fettling pumice lands, which might yet become his most lasting monument. Mr H. E. Holland thought the amendments made in the bill had improved it. The Laboilr party would, of course, oppose any (clauses giving the right to acquire the freehold of national endowment lands. Ho regretted that there was no better provision for dealing with land aggrega. ticn, which undoubtedly was going on in the Dominion.

The Minister, in reply, said there was no chance of a bill consolidating the Lands for Settlement Acts, being brought down this session with the general principle of granting further privileges to backblock settlers tn the form of rent free lands, etc., but he warned the House that there was always a danger that unless land was carefully classified settlers who were not entitled to these privileges would be claiming them. This was not, perhaps, the bill in which to open up the general question of tenures, but he was in favour of giving the freehold to all those who went out and cultivated land and who wished to Becure the freehold. He hoped yet to be able to give holders of national endowment land the freehold. He Was as much against aggregation as any one, but he recognised the great difficulty of defining what was agreegation. Compulsory residence was, he thought, the only remedy, but he proposed to go into the whole question before Parliament met again. Several matters had been suggested to him us suitable for introduction into this bill and he proposed to bring them down at a later stage, when the would have theni referred to the Lands Committee. He moved the second reading, which was agreed to, and the House rose at 11.35 p.m. till 2.30 p-m. to-morrow. REFORM-LIBERAL FUSION. LABOUR LEADER’S ADVICE. (Special to “Tribune.”)

Parliamentary Buildings, Sept. 11. The production of the Hon. J. A. Hanan’s Election of Ministers and Partv Government Reform Bill was the subject of some mild criticism from the Labour benches yesterday. Both Mr. Holland and Mr. Fraser appealed to the Prime Minister to make overtures to the Liberal Party for fusion, go that the Reform Party and the Liberals might be able to form a united ministry. Air. Holland said he could not hold out any hope that such ministry would last for more than one parliament. It would be a combination .which would commend itself to the Reform Party and the Liberal Party. Th© Leader of the Opposition: And to the Labour Party. Mr, Holland: And to the Labour Party, because the hon. gentleman would be where he belongs (laughter). It might be that the Minister of Agriculture’might object but that was by the way. Personal opinions have to go where the interests of parties are concerned. There is no doubt that while they are divided the danger of their extinction is greater than if- they were combined. “I do not agree with you,” remarked Mr. Wilford. Mr. Holland said the inevitability of their extinction would be there, oven if the two parties did combine, only it might be delayed for a year or two or perhaps for the life of one parliament.