THE LAND BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13306, 12 October 1906, Page 6

THE LAND BILL.

ABANDONED FOR THE SESSION STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. MEMBERS TO CONSULT THEIR CONSTITUENTS. [BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. . From the day :»f the introduction of the Land Bill, notwithstanding all the prophecies of the ardent leaseholders that it would go through this session, I have held to the opinion that the Government would not succeed in placing it, even in its amended form, on the Statute Book this session, and the forecasts I have sent you from time to time have received confirmation to-day. You would gather from last night's telegram that the fate of the Bill was already practically settled; to-day a rumour went through the lobbies that at a meeting of Cabinet, held this morning, it had been decided to abandon the Bill, and that the Government would not even persevere with the second reading debate. The leaseholders were naturally very downcast at this news, especially after all the talk about the Government "standing or falling by the Bill," " pushing it through this session," " coming back after the Exhibition if necessary," and that " after the Bill was introduced all other business would be left in the background until it. was passed." The leaseholders think the Government have played into the hands of the enemy, especially as during the recess the waverers in the Country party will be hardened up against the Bill. The Government, however, it is quite evident, could not trust their own party. This ; s clear from the fact that they have not dared to call a caucus to discuss either the Bill or the position that has arisen since its introduction. SIR J. WARD MAKES A STATEMENT. When the House met this afternoon there was a particularly large attendance of members. Some uninteresting business took up an hour or so, and then the Premier made a statement regarding the Land Bill.' He said he had informed the House on the second reading of the Bill that the Government intended to put it through this session if it received the assistance of honourable members to enable it to do so. Since lie made that statement representations had been made by members and others in regard to the Bill. It had been pointed out by members that, in consequence of the important issues raised in the measure, as a matter of fairness to them and their constituents, they should be allowed an opportunity of explaining the provisions of the Bill, and consulting their constituents upon the proposals. In the light of these representations he felt it his duty to straightforwardly and candidly inform the House of the position. He admitted the reasonableness .of the contention, an,d the House would recognise that it would not be possible for members who desired to do so to consult their constituents while the House was sitting, nor was there the necessary time to enable them to put the Bill through before Monday, October 29. That date, or, at the latest, Tuesday, the 30th, was the last day to which the present session could be extended. FOURTEEN DAYS' DEBATE. From information which had been furnished to him he was satisfied that the second reading debate would not be finished for 14 days, and possibly not then. (Cries of " Hear, hear.") If they took next Monday, and all succeeding Mondays, that would take them up to the end of the month to get the second reading through. Then the committee stage would take some weeks. It had taken four weeks to get the Bill back to the House from the Land Committee, on which there were only ! 14 members. The question arose then whether or not the House should-as an alternative meet after it adjourned for the opening of the International Exhibition. It must be remembered that the present session commenced much later in the year than usual. The question was whether members should be forced back after the Exhibition, or whether some other course should be taken. It was needless for him to disguise the fact that, owing to the length of time that would be occupied by the second reading and the committee stages, there was no possibility of getting the Bill through before October 29. He had been informed that members were very strongly opposed to coming back after the Exhibition to go. (*; with the Bill, and if they did so they would go on towards the end of November, or even to December. (Hear, hear.) He had hoped that, considering the liberality of the measure, members would have been able to assist it to pass this session, but it was not expected that it would take four weeks in the Waste Lands Committee. Honourable members would recognise that if the Land Bill was proceeded with in the short time available, no other business could be done. That position had to be faced in connection with the matter as it now presented itself to the, Government. COULD NOT PASS THIS SESSION. In considering all the circumstances, the Government had come to the conclusion that it was not possible to pass the measure this session, nor did it appear to be possible, in view of the opinions of members, to force them back again after the opening of the International Exhibition. The conclusion arrived at by the Government was that it was better to submit the measure to the country during the recess, and have it fully before them next session. (Hear, hear.) This course would give that opportunity which had been urged, and would enable the people of the colony to thoroughly review the measure. He was confident that full explanations of the Bill by Ministers and members, and an examination into it by the people of the country, 'would strengthen the position of the measure, and lie hoped it would put members into the position of carrying it through to a successful issue next session. He had recognised during the last day or two, particularly from the information that had come to him in connection with such an important matter, that the time at the disi posa! of the House (although he ' had ■ thought the difficulty might have been over- ; come in view of the important amendments' . : for the improvement of the Bill that had j been made at the instigation of the Go- | vcruriient) would not be sufficient for them I to get the Bui through. If they were j to take every day from now on, including ] .Mondays, they would be at the very most i 13 or 14 days over the measure, and in view of the possibility of two speeches from members on amendments, he realised that it was not possible for the Government to attempt to force the Bill through with the limited time at their disposal. Mr. Bollard: You would not be able to put it through before Christmas. Sir Joseph Ward: The hon. gentleman (speaking, J. presume, for the Opposition) will see the wisdom of the course I am | suggesting, because we would all like to see Mr. Bollard having his Christmas dinner at home. (Laughter.) The position had, lie thought, been stated by him frankly to hon. members, and he hoped no one, not even the Leader of the Opposition, would twit the Government, with attempting to recede from the position they had taken up with regard to the Bill. /The Government had not relinquished their ; efforts one iota, to try and put the Bill upon the Statute Book in the interests of the people of the colony. He recognised fully the position as to the limitation of ; time and the difficulty of attempting to bring back lion., members after once adjourning, and hon. members would, he thought, realise that he was following in, the circumstances what was the best possible course. He. hoped early next week to intimate to hon. members what Bills the Government would ask them to pass this'session. The Public Works Statement would be brought down next week, and if members would give reasonable assistance to the Government he expressed the opinion that during the short time available for the work that was to be done, good and useful work would yet be ■ put upon the Statute Book.. The Government proposed

that the House should rise on Saturday," October 27, and if members assisted they would be able to do so. If not, then on Monday, 29th , inst., at latest. , He merely indicated this to members so that they might apply themselves systematically to the -work that remained, with a view to putting through legislation affecting the different interests in the country. {Hear, • hear.) ':- '<• ■'-. . ; .- . ' ' REMARKS BY MR. MASSEY. Mr. iUassey said the statement of the Premier must have come as a very great surprise to the majority of members of the I House. He did not intend to criticise the proposal made by the Government, noi at present to express any opinion regarding it. He would simply say it was for the Government to manage their policy measures in their own way. . The responsibility was theirs to answer to the country in regard to any course they chose to adopt. " Call on the next order of the day," said Mr. Speaker, and the House at once almost emptied itself into the lobby, and less than a bare quorum remained to deal with the Bills on the Order Paper. All interest had gone out of politics for the remainder of the session. ANOTHER LAND BILL. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, soon after the House met this afternoon, obtained leave to introduce the Land Act Amendment Bill, No. 2, and it was thereupon read a first time. ' " Does this Bill deal with Crown lands?" asked the Speaker. "It deals with all lands, sir," replied Mr. Eraser. The Speaker: "It stands referred to the Lands Committee." This solemn announcement as received with peals of laughter. Mr. Eraser guarantees to settle the land question with a Bill of three clauses. His idea is to settle the question of large estates by a graduated tax. In the second place he would make every man his own valuer. The third clause would enable the Government to resume any property at a certain percentage above the owner's vahia.tioii, the minimum to be given for any property being fixed at 10 per cent, above the valuation. Under this system, if a man raised his valuation unduly he would have to pay extra taxation, whereas if he made the valuation too low the Government could acquire his property at 10 per cent, above his own valuation. SPEECH BY MR. McNAB. [BY TELEGRAPH. PRF.SS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. Mr. McNab, Minister for Lands, addressing a, meeting at Lower Hutt to-night, said had the Government endeavoured to force the Land Bill on to the Statute Book, he believed it could have been done, but this was the position: Had they gone on with the Bill, and attempted to put it through, they would have carried with them through its whole course the hostility of a large section of people, who, if they understood the proposals and their operation better, would have ended by supporting them. In view of this, and of the necessity there would be of bringing members back late in November, it became patent that the best course Was to postpone the work until next session. It was the intention of the Government to take advantage' of every opportunity they had of travelling from one end of the colony to the other during the recess, explaining the Bill, and replying to questions.