HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 24 October 1912, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

INEBRIATES' HOMES

Mr Herdman presented a report from IMr Kettle, S.M., on the Pakatoa and Roto Roa Inebriates' Homes. The report stated, inter alia, that every effort was being made by the Salvation Army authorities to make the inmates comfortable. They had expressed gratitude for the manner in which they had been treated. The homes had fully justified their existence. Mr Kettle 1 suggested that the inmates might be let out on probation after a certain period of detention. He reported that the holding of a political meeting and canvassing for votes did not tend towards the promotion of discipline on the islands. QUESTION DAY. Mr Myers asked the Minister of finance whether it was a fact that £v 4,000 was to be raised for the Public Works Fund. Mr Allen replied that the money had to be raised. Mr liusseil asked the Prime Minister whether it was his intention to eend the Minister of Finance to England Mr Massey replied that the Government did intend to follow that course and that Mr Alien would go Home v soon as possible after the session ended Mr Myers asked if Mr Allen would Officially attend the sittings of the Imperial Defence Committee Mr Massey replied that the matter nad not been considered Replying to Mr Brown, the Prime Minister stated that he did not intend rnVTn Afto H f 1G "? tice Of m°tion sta^i"K in Mr Brown's name censuring the Government for the discontinuation of h? ™-°Pe i ; ative ™a»-ay works, unless he had the written authority of the Leader of the Opposition " him Bl\°' vl\ said th<it was unfair to him, as the Opposition had no leader Ministers replying to various questions, said that specific enquiry will be

+«Sf £ resent m regard to the Government grading of grain are not satisfactory, and Chambers^ Co" beTn^ZTf 1 ff P? rtin ß dirtricta W been asked for their views on the subject On receipt of their replies the whole matter will receive careful attet tion.

An endeavor will be made to <nve ef lZl\° Mr/ 1 1 1'S s"^estion fortiie intrv boT * 6lOt *f IePhoneß at all eoun . l/ tt °ffices + wh?re th« toll is 6d or is, telephones to be switched on when the country office is closed.

THE LAND BILL thJ^°Bill. Went iDtO C°mmittee

? t^-n ! ye-rS advised the bringing of The Minister said that the Bill was not a town planning measure TW SUggf maklng -S tWffN?+?\ n T ved, an amendment to 6^ fft't-idf 5 aU ri Shts-of -^ -hall be

o^lh m& ? lnmster declined to accept the amendment on the ground that the adoption of such a mot i on wou]d mean placing, difficulties in the way of those who desired to cut up their land, llie amendment was lost by 48 to 19 and the clause passed ' tiweii °^¥l B? vey vr Sed that something should be done to prevent people with capital from going into a lan£ ballot, Mid thereby preventing poor opP°£ents from getting on to the land. Ihe Prime Minister said that he had sympathy with the proposal, and if possible regulations would be drafted dealing with the subject. The intention f as> Z l6 said, m answer to Mr Forbes that landless applicants and those who ll^ fn" , two years unsuccessful at the_ballot s had to be the first satisfied « Malcolm urged that the man who had solcl his Crown lease should never be again allowed to take part in a land ballot. He suggested that instead of a ballot land should be thrown open for selection at the market value. Mr Witty hoped that no such suggestion would ever be entertained.

The clause giving preference to landless applicants was passed unamended. •_j. clause 8, providing that the Minister may postpone payment of rent by a Crown tenant when relief is deemed necessary on account of natural causes or otherwise, the Prime Minister explained that the object of the clause was that every case for remission should be considered on its merits. Mr R. W. Smith moved to amend the clause so as to provide that the amount .inoj pe&Dxe qiou jit?us panocfysod q.uaj jo years' rent, instead of three years proposed in the Bill.

Mr Massey submitted that the postponemenrt for three years was as much as ffie State could afford.

After midnight the amendment was lost on the voices.

At clause 9, dealing with the exchange of national endowment lands for other areas of equal value, Mr Russell moved that such exchanges should be subject to a recommendation by the Land Purchase Board. There was nothing in the clause as to the limitation of the extent of endowment land to be exchanged.

The Minister replied that the clause was to affect only small areas of three, four or five acre's. He had himself intended to add such a provision as Mr Russell suggested. Th© clause passed, with Mr Russell's amendment, and the House rose.