PARLIAMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 293, 28 August 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[.PBR UNITED PRISS ASSOCIATION.] HOUSE OP EEPRESENTATTVES. Friday, Auoubt 25. questions. Replying to Mr. Daniel, Mr. Rolleston said that Government had instructed the warden at Orepuki and Longwood to report fully as to the burning of documents deposited in the courthouse at Riverton. Government recognised their liability to make good these documents, and the matter would be looked into. — Replying to Mr. Sntton, Mr. Dick said arrangements for taxing solicitors' bills of costs were made the subject of a special provision in the Supreme Court Bill just passed. They would watch its operation, and if not satisfactory, further provision would be made during the recess.— Replying to Mr. Taiaroa, Mr. Brycc said that grants had been issued to half-castes named in tho Middle Island Half-caste Crown Grants Act, 1877. — Replying to Mr. Holmes, Major Atkinson said the caveat now standing in the Land Registry Office, Napier, against the transfer of the Omaranui block would, if the parties interested took no further action, be shortly removed. — Replying to Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Rolleoton said that provision would be made in the estimates for satisfying the Volunteer land scrip claims. It was understood that that was the object of the commission rather than to provide fur these claims by land appropriations. ALIENS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. Dick moved that the Council's amendment in the Aliens Act Amend- | ment Bill, enabling the Chinese to bej come naturalized at the reduced rate, ; should not be agreed to. The Chinese, unlike other nationalities, did not come here to settle. They came here under gaffers, and having worked for a few years they returned to their own land. : He named a committee to confer with | the council's committee on the subject. i Mr. Seddon and Mr. Smith spoke in I favor of the amendment being accepted. The latter pointed out that an Act imposing a tax per head on Chinese had already been passed. Tho motion for a conference was. put | and carried. , I new iiLLS. ; The Native Reserves Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. — The Drainage and Mining Bill was read a Beecond time and referred to the Goldfields Committee. LAND BILL. On the motion for going into committee on the Land Bill, Messrs. Bathgate nnd Seddon spoke against a measure of such magnitude being brought on at this late period of the session. Mr. Seddon moved that it be not committed until Monday. Mr. Fulton said that in tho Waste Lands Committee the leasing principle met with a great diversity of opinion, but it was agreed to allow the matter to be fought out on the floor of the House. He was one of those who disagreed with the proposal;. still he looked upon the bill as containing many very important .provisions. . ; . • , - Mr. Macandrew also objected to tho leasehold proposals, and would endeavor to obtain some modification wherejjy provision might be made for turning these into, frqelKiKl*. H« -4lfo agVeea

in the opinioii^iat th© bil%haa many important and valuable provisions. It was in no respect a party question. The motion^ fdlr going into committee was put, and carried on the vpfijee. On clause 2, Mr. Fish mojgJKtUbat the leasing proposal should Iwjyipwd to land in proclaimed gbldfieldsT" "' ' Mr. Seddon and Mr. Weston opposed the amendment. , Mr. Rolleston said the agricultural leasing in force in Otago and Nelson enabled the holder to acquire a freehold in the easiest possible manner. - ~MfoHursthouße contended -ife*w« unfair to contest the leasing principle in committee, as that had, b?en dona' on the second reading. :■ -Sir John Hall denied-tbat the-principle of the Bill had been affirmed' on the second reading. ," I . Sir G. Grey upheld the leasing system, and denied that it would introduce an undesirable system into their political life. He waa of opinion that the .system would be the means of attracting immigration to the oolony. After some further remarks from Mr. Fulton and Mr. Bathgate, the amendment was lost on the voices. Mr. Moss proposed that certain words in the clause be struck out, so as to eliminate the leasing system altogether. Mr. Macandrew .was opposed to the leasehold system altogether. Mr. M. W. Green favored the area for leasing being left to the administration of the day. Sir George Grey moved that the entire area be brought under the operation of the leasing system. Mr. Swanson argued that in adopting the Bill as printed, they would affirm the principle, and having done so' they could come back next session and get more.