PARLIAMENT.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2644, 4 September 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

In the Estimates is included a grant of £6OOO for the widow of the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon. LAND VALUATION. Mr Kirkbride moved the second reading of the Government Valuation of Land Act Amendment Bill, which provides for one of the two assessors in the Valuation Courts being nominated by the local authority of the district concerned. ~ The mover contended that as the State was one of the parties to valuation disputes, and also had the appointment oi the Valuation Court in its own hands, the system was inequitable. The uttermost farthing was now being squeezed out of the small farmers. It was imperative that a man with a knowledge of local conditions should have a seat on the Assessment Court bench.—The Minister of Lands stated that an assessor nominated by the local bodies and another appointed by the Government would form a very good court There was no intention to oppose the Bill, and it was the Government's intention to carry out the system he bad indicated.—Mr Massey said he had heard of a Single-taxer being appointed to the Valuation Jourt, while in his district the local president of the Liberal and Labor Federation was one of the assessors, which was a positive insult—The Bill was generally favored, though opposition came from Mr Laureneon, who said that the people who paid the tax should not be allowed to fix the amount The Government valuations were sometimes grossly under the mark, as, for instance, that of an estate on the Port HUIb, between Christchurch and Lyttelton, which had been valued at £31,000, though the owner would not sell under £ll2,ooo.—Mr Kirkbride having replied, the Bill passed its second reading, and at 10.45 the House adjourned. CARBIDE OF CALCIUM.

Mr Lewis haa given notice to ask the Government whether it is aware—-(1) That owing to carbide of calcium having been patented in New Zealand consumers are obliged to pay twice as much for that article as it can be obtained for elsewhere ; (2) that under a recent decision of the House of Lords it haa been decided that the manufacture of carbide of calcium is not patentable ; and (3) if it finds these statements to be correct whether it will take such steps as will relievo the New Zealand consumer from the present exorbitant charge. It must be obvious, says Mr Lewis, that no single consumer can be expected to undertake the financial responsibility of testing the matter in a court, or courts, of law. SUBSIDIES TO LOCAL BODIES. The Local Authorities Subsidies Bill provides that sums not exceeding £IOO,OOO be paid annually by the Government as subsidies to local authorities. Subsidies to counties will be calculated on so much of the total rates collected, as is represented by (1) the first farthing of such average rate at 3s in the pound ; (2) the second farthing, at 3s 6d in the pound; (3) the third, at 4s 6d in the pound; (4) the fourth, at 5s in the pound ; (5) the filth, at 5a 6d in the pound ; (6) the sixth, at 6s in the pound. No sum of over £2OOO will be paid to any county in any one year, and no subsidy will be paid to boroughs whose total capital value exceeds five millions. No borough will be entitled to more than £350 in any one year. The subsidy payable to any borough will be one-third of the rates collected under conditions provided for counties.

REFORM OF THE LAND LAWS. The following are tbe main principles of tht proposed new land laws : (a) The sale of Crown lands to be discontinued, except in the cases specified below. (b) The lease-in-perpetuity syetem (999 years) to be discontinued, and a term of 66 years substituted, with valuation for improvements at the end of the term. (c) The tenant under a 66 years' to have power to pay capital sums to the extent in all of not more than 90 per cent of the total capital value of the land, the rent being reduced by interest on the sums so paid. (d) When 50 per cent, of the capital value has peen paid, all restrictive covenants to be removed, the tenant to hold thereafter on terms of paying abated rent (e) All capital sums so paid to be refunded at the end of the term. (f) At the end of the term the land to be offered again for lease, burdened with the value of improvements to be paid by the incoming to the outgoing tenant. (g) Tenants under 999 years' lease (including leases under the Land for Settlements Act) to have the option of converting into new leases at either the original or present value. (h) Tenants under old leases (not including leases under the Land for Settlements Act, etc.) to have the additional option of surrendering leases, when the land will be sold by public competition, burdened with valuation for improvements, the proceeds of such sales to be paid 4nto the Land for Settlements Account, so as to bo solely available for acquiring improved lands for disposal under the Land for Settlements Act.