The Settlers Land Revaluation Continuation Bill.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XIX, Issue 3245, 8 October 1892, Page 2

The Settlers Land Revaluation Continuation Bill.

> This bill will be interesting to Egmont electors. When it came before the I Assembly on 21st September, Mr. MeGnire said with referenoe to section 4 of clause 2, 1 think this is an innovation, and • should not be here. It is likely to deter > people from making applications who are ■ entitled to reductions. I have the original i bill before me, and there is nothing about i Bums of money fo be paid, or money to be ' forfeited, if a olaim is not substantiated. ■ All should be treated alike. " A fair field f and no favour" should be tbe motto of t tbis House. Many people come in fear • and trembling to ask for fair reductions, 5 and tbis would prevent such from making application. I do not see why there 3 should be tbis change from the original 1 Act. With reference to the bill, I shall I certainly give it my support, bat I should j like to see it improved in tbis direction : I I think it ought to apply to educational j and other reserves, because people are j suffering severely from having to pay too ) high rents for education and other reserves, f and tbe Commissioners, when approached, ! will make no change whatever, and con3 sequently it is necessary that this House . shonld introduce a Fair Bent Bill, or B something of the kind, because these 1 people are suffering very severely, and 9 want the same attention and consideration 3 as all tbose who come under tbis bill. I am aware that several parties did not . make application last time, or have been I shut out from one cause or another, and » therefore require redress; but, in my opinion, those parties who have education reserves, or reserves managed by Commissioners wbo will make no redaction whatever, are even in a wbrse position, for they have to become bankrupt in order to get rid of a tenancy. I think something should be done for them, they surely deserve some consideration, and tbat the House should bring forward a Fair Bent Bill, or appoint a Board of Arbitration to inquire into their grievances, .. and to allow the rents to fall or rise lf periodically. Something of that kind is absolutely necessary— something of the kind suggested by tbe honourable leader '• of the Opposition. Until we have a Board J. of tbat description I do not think justice will be done. I should like to see the Minister include in thiß measure educational and other reserves, fie himself c knows, from his travels through New a Zealand, bow people are suffering ; how tbat improvements have been placed on s land, and tbat such heavy rents have to a be paid that tbe time is coming when tbe tenants will have to leave everything behind them. Now, let us do something for tbe encouragement; of these people. 1 We are legislating for the people of the future : we ought at tbe same time to do something for the people who have done good service on the land — who have f already cleared and improved it, and , mads homes for .themselves. We should j consider these people as well as the people j wbo in future are to go upon the land. I should like to see something done in tbis direction. I therefore trust the Hon. the 9 Minister of Lands, while doing justice I under this bill, will not forget leasehold of . Education and otber reserves, and, as I think this bill may be the means of doing a great deal of good, I shall very heartily support its second reading. 3 __ mmmm _ m _ mm _ _____ __