HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 25 October 1912, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tha House met at 2.30 p.m

PUBLIC SERVICE BILL

Mr Herdman moved that the amendments made by the Council in the Public Service Bill be agreed to. . Sir Joseph Ward objected to the powers proposed to be vested in the Commissioners.

Mr Russell said that any responsibility which had been in the hands of the Minister would be removed by the passage of the Bill. The Government desired to say that if the scheme failed, the fault was on the part of the Commissioner.

Mr Veitch asked what was going to become of a Government which took every individual by the throat and said: "For the future you must approach us. We are a Government, and we are going to rule you as we think fit." In his opinion the Commissioner would deteriorate into an autocrat. Dr Newman said that the measure would exclude political influence, which had been so much in evidence in the past. THE LAND BILL. In the evening consideration of the Land Bill was resumed in committee at the clause which proposes to enable the holder of a lease in perpetuity to purchase the freehold of his holding. Mr McCallum considered the proposal in the Bill as a huge act of corruption, and moved to provide that the right of purchase of the freehold by L.I.P. tenants should only apply to future lessees. The Prime Minister pointed out that lease in perpetuity was wiped out by the Act of 1907, so that even if they carried the amendment it would be useless.

Mr McCallum's amendment was lost on the voices.

Mr Witty then moved .that the fee simple may be acquired at a price not less than the present day unimproved value.

The amendment was lost by 48 to

Mr Russell moved to add the following proviso to sub-clause 1 of clans* 20: "Provided that the fee simple shall be granted on conditions as to residence shown in clauses L 59 to 161 of the principal Act." This would provide for compulsory residence.

The Prime Minister quoted the existing law to show that residence was not compulsory in certain circumstances even now.

Mr Hindmarsh said that the IV.me Minister had been a traitor to the small man on the land.

Mr Okey: Is the word traitor in order ?

Mr Massey: Oh, I don't mind. _ Mr Ell said that Mr Massey had previously supported the principle involved in the amendment.

Mr Massey said that he refused to place leasehold tenants in a worse position than they were at present. Mr Wilford said that the only way to stop the aggregation of estates was to put a clause on the title of every piece of land pointing out that it was subject to the restriction of area provisions of the Act.

I'.r Russell's amendment was lost by 45 to 23.

M" Wilford moved to amend clause 20, section 1, by providing that o\<-ry certificate of title should bear a ciate-n-.ent that it is subject to the limitation of area provisions of the Act.

After discussion. Mr Wilford withdrew his amendment, on the Prime Minister stating that ho would consult legal advisors as to the best way to achieve the object aimed at.

On the same clause, on the motion of the Prime Minister, it was agreed that all moneys derived from the sale of Crown lands shall be paid into the Land for Settlements account, so as to be available for the purchase of other Crown lands.

Mr Witty moved an amendment to clause 21 to provide that land, sub-di-vided by a private owner shall be dipposed of by ballot, instead of by public tender, as proposed by the Bill. The Prime Minister expressed the opinion that the tender system would prove to be better than the ballot system. It was time they gave it a trial. The amendment was negatived by 35 to 28, and the clause passed. Clauses 30 and 31, providing that settlement land may be held in fee simple were postponed. In clause 32, dealing with the limitation of area, Mr T. M. Wilford moved an amendment to provide that the limi-tation^-of area pro\ risions shall apply to any area of land which is or was at any time settlement land. He also moved that every certificate of title should bear upon it an endorsement that the land comes under this restriction.

The Prime Minister said he could not accept the first part of the amendment, which would affect a million acres of land, but he would be willing to accept the second portion of the proposal. On the motion of Mr Wilford, it was decided that every document of title should bear a statement that it is subject to the restriction contained in the clause.

At 2.35 a.m. progress was reported