PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1877, 11 June 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Per United Press Association.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, June 9. The House >eaumed at 7.30 p.m. The Friendly Societies Act Amend* meet and Pish Auction Bi Is were r. ad a second time Mr IVESS moved the second reading of the Land Association Bill, which, he remarked, had been carefully drafted by a number of gentlomen interested in the subject. It had hoped that Co'onel Fraser would have taken the matter in hand according to liis promise at Auckland. Mr Ivess proceeded to detail the provisions of the measure at some length, explaining that it was intended to enable landowners and others to rds< money with facility upon the scourity of their landed property Sir J. VOGEL said that since mentioning the ma ter in a former speech he had received a strong hint that if they were to go into the Home market and ask for a loan in order to ro-lend money i would have a very,bad effect on their oredit. As to the Bill, he had scarcely had time to consider it thorough!}’, but from a hurried glance he could see there were some features which must be modified. The measure was comp icated, and in parts would be difficult to work. The almost prohibitory power proposed to be taken by the Association to raise notes was most undesirable. He might say that rates of interest were falling aod by re-arrange-ment of rates during the last two years L‘200,003 a year had been saved to private borrowers. Ila advised Mr Ivess to give them more time to look iuto the Bill.— This was done and the Bill postponed for a fortnight Sir GEORGE GREY moved the second reading of the Land for Settlement Bill, which he said was intended to turn the present depression to future advantage to New Zealand. It was designed to faciii* tato the purchase or other acquisition of private lands for sub-division for the purpose of allotments,eitliet by arrangement with the owners, or as uuder the Publio Works Act, with compensation. The funds were to be provided by land bonds, wliioh were not to become repayable till after 25 years. Tho speaker went into the provisions of the Bill at some length an , enlarged upou tile advantages it olfered to people seeking small farms, which they would get at a yearly quit rent. lie was sanguine that the whole of the Native lands could be brought under his system and that by it every mail in the Colony could obtain a farm if he wished. Sir ROBERT STOUT agreed with tho | principal ot allowing the State to pur- | chase private lands for settlement, but roj gretted Sir George Grey lmd not brought i on a more workable measure. There were twenty-five million acres of land still left for settlement, in view of which the proposed schema was too costly. Beside* which, people would not accept bonds in payment for their lauds as suggested. The quit rent system at the Capo had proved another failure in every respect. He admitted there were certain districts of the Colony in which some such measure could be applied with effect, but it must tie done with the utmost caution to prevent jobbery and loss to the State. Moreover, there was no finally about tho Bill, for there was nothing to prevent purchasers of land afterwards selling it all to one man. Mr lIURSTHOUSE considered tho Bill did not embody the priucipls which Sir George Grey had enunciated during the recess, and he would oppose it unh.s* cno-mously nltered in committeo. Mr SCOBIE MACKENZIE said the Bill really aimed at providing people with farms improved by other people’s labour and ounital. There was no necessity for the Bill whatever. Mr ROLLESTON combatted tho Premier’s calculation of the amount of land ■till available for settlement, which whs over estimated. The Bill was in the right direction, 3nd reflected credit on the mover, but he feared that so many alterations were necessary in details, and they would lead to so much discussion that there was little chance of its passing this session. He was glad to Bee Sir George Grev was altering some ot his opinions on the land question. What had become of • lie unearned increment, which it now appeared the State was to give up. If the bill were passed it certainly ought to wo hand in-hand with the borrowing policy of the Colony. Sir JULIUS VOGEL said he was behind the advanced opinions on the land question, which had been enunciated of late years. Undoubtedly there were some holdings of much too large a size in the (Jo'ony. If diey clearly saw that in the future some of the clio ee lands of the c >untry must be bought buck They certainly could not begin to discuss the means too soon. He did not think, however, that the present Bill provided proper machinery, though it was a decided advance on the practical road of settlement of people on the lands. He urged that it would be quite enough this session if they held out an inducement to large land <nvnerßto cut up estates themselves. If all that was said about them was true, they ought to be ready enough to sell their land. Major ATKINSON moved the adjiurninentof the debate 'ill Friday. The House adjourned at 12.25 p.m.