PARLIAMENT

Northern Advocate, 8 October 1913, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

YESTERDAY'S SITTING

MORE JUDGES. LAND BILL DISCUSSION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 8. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Judicature Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's message. The Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister of Justice) explained that the Bill was to facilitate the business of the Court of Appeal by the appointment of two extra judges. It proposed to split up the business of the Court into two parts so as to enable the Court to expedite the disposal of cases. Messrs G. W. Russell, G. W. Forbes, and J. A. Hanan protested against the introduction of so iritportant 'a Bill without any previous notice. Mr Hindmarsh (Wellington South) congratulated the Government on the introduction of the Bill. The present judges were overworked and cases were frequently hung up, thus keeping up tne cost to litigants. The Hon. W. Herdman said the Bill had been brought down because it was necessary to strengthen the Supreme Court Bench. It was the intention of the Government to put the Bill through, but not before the Statutes Revision Committee had had an opportunity of considering it from every view-point. At the present, time the judges had too much to do. The extra cost would only be in the salaries of two extra judges. The Bill was read a first time and referred to the ' Statutes Revision Committee. LAND BILL. The debate on the second reading of the Land Bill was resumed by Mr Okey (Taranaki), who defended the freehold as a powerful magnet to attract people to the land. He commended the liberal provisions of the Bill, which would greatly facilitate settlement. Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) said the Premier was^not. always in favour of closer settlement. He quoted Han-| card to show that if he had had his j rway the Lands for Settlement Act < would never have become, law. His j Biill was' now carrying out the very thing which he had so strongly condemned in 18 94. Mr G. J. Anderson (Mataura) agreed that drastic legislation was necessary to break up big estates. That legislation could only take the shape of a graduated tax, because the buying up of estates could not go on with profit. There was not sufficient in the Bill to bring about the subdivision of firstclass land. He strongly deprecated the proposal to dispense with residential conditions. . Mr McCallum (Wairau) attacked cub-clause 2 of section 48, which he (declared ga]ve thfe freehold at the original value. This he would vote against. He was an ardent freeholder, but it was not honest to the great bulk of the people of the Dominion to put a purchasing clause in the existing leases. He gave notice of amendment to the effect that no State money be loaned to assist any settlement tenant to acquire the freehold. N Mr Witty (Riccarton) traced the concessions made to settlers by past Liberal Governments. While the names of Mr Rolleston, Sir John McKenzie, Mr Seddon and Sir Joseph Ward would be handed down as men who tried to give the settlers a chance in life, that of Mr Massey would go down as one who sold the birthright of the people. The Government had just as much right to give lessees of private lands the right to acquire the freehold. To be consistent the freehold of national endowments should he parted with, just as the freehold of settlement lands was being sold. EVENING SITTING. The House met at 7.30 p.m. The debate on the Land Bill was continued by the back-benchers. The Hon. W. H. Herries replied to some of the criticism at midnight and after Mr Forbes had spoken the debate was adjourned and the House rose at 12.55 a.m.