HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue 70455, 4 October 1900, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, October 3. The House met at 2.30. PEACE CELEBRATION DAY. The Premier said he had fixed the Prince of Wales' Birthday (November 9th) as the day for the oelebration of peace in South Africa. MAORI LANDS. Tbe Maori Lands Administration and Representation Act Amendment Bills were read a first time. LANDS FOB SETTLEMENT. Mr Seddon moved the committal of the Lands for Settlement Consolidation Bill. Messrs B. Thompson and McNab questioned the wisdom of allowing a rebate on rent of ten per cent, for prompt payment. Mr Bollard referred to the inequalities that existed in the rentals charged, and hoped Ministers would endeavour to effect an adjustment. Major Steward advocated that selectors should be allowed a rebate, not on one half-year's rent only, but upon as many half-years' rent as they chose to pay in advance. Mr McLachlan considered it was an unjust tiling to give a man who could afford to pay rent promptly a rebate of 10 per cent. j Mr Collins said the colony could not, and there was no reason why it should, mako such a large concession to selectors who had never asked for it. He urged that there should be a re-valuation of land at stated periods. Mr Hogg contended that those who had taken up land under the present law should have the option of changing their tenure of land; also that there should be periodical revaluation of land. Mr G. W. Russell did not think the result had been satisfactory ; nor that it was a matter for congratulation that only 24 settlers were placed upon an acquired estate at a cost of £3200 each. Mr Mills said the price of money had considerably decreased, therefore selectors should reap the advantage in the way of reduction of rent on prompt payment. Mr Ell advocated that land should be acquired in the vicinity of large centres for enabling farm laborers to take it up in small sections at a less rental than seventy to ninety shillings an acre. Mr T. Mackenzie pointed out that one million and a half had been borrowed for the purchase of land, and not a single penny had been set aside to redeem that sum. If a reversal of the success of our produce markets were to set in, the value of our lands would proportionately decrease. Mr Hcrnsby defended a rebate on prompt payment of rent, and considered the principle ought to be extended to settlers in the back blocks. Mr Fowlds considered that no objection could be raised to a rebate of 10 per cent, if a Fair Rene Bill had beon in operation, but under present conditions he would oppose the rebate proposal. Mr Meredith said there was no general demand among Crown tenants for the freehold tenure. He contended that if there was to be a rebate it should apply to all Crown tenants. Mr Pirani advocated a re-valuation of leases. If areas were restricted, he believed the freehold system was best. He condemned the system of ballot, and urged, instead, a process of selection of tenants. The committal of the bill was agreed to. ELECTORAL ACT. The second reading of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill was carried on the voices. LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT. The Lands for Settlement Consolidation Bill was committed. In the clause providing for the taking of land for workers' homes, the words '* the owner shall have the right to re tarn 30 acres" was altered to 50 acres. • A now sub-clause was added, providing that a selector may take up an additional area if he can show that he possesses insufficient land to maintain himself and family. The amount to be advanced for buildings, etc., for workers' homes was increased from £20 to <£50. A motion to strike out the clause providing for a rebate of ten per cent for prompt payment was lost. Tbe bill was reported with amendmens