THE LAND BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15133, 25 October 1912, Page 8

THE LAND BILL.

v .'■ ■"■:■• '.-' •■"•,- '-'I-'' • ■'■~■>.. :" ■: ■ : ... CONTINUATION OF. DEBATE, 'EIGHT TO/THE FREEHOLD. 1 AMENDMENTS DEFEATED. > [BY TEtEGBAFH— CORKKSrOOTEOT-] ?.. ''. ■■ /wßuasoioaf, Thursday. J & the House-if Representatives'this even, ... ing the Land Bill was again considered .in j Committee. -.. : > '• The first 'clause considered .was, that > which proposes to enable the bolder, p£ a . lease in perpetuity to purchase,the freei hold of his holding. " . Mr. Ell (Christchnrclx South) questioned ' whether the method proposed of ascertain* > ing the value of land would bo in the in T • teresta of people who were real: owners; i of'the land. ■'■'■■;■'' , [ /Mr. Veitch (Wanganui) moved to amend the, clause by providing that the leesiia of , any land shall- have the right to acquire [. the freehold of his land. "He considered I that the lessee of land from a private i owner should - have the same Tight of ' acquisition of the freehold as the lessee of ■ land from the CrownI The chairman iiilod the amendment out ! of order, as being beyond the scope of* , the measure. - - - : ■' ■•;: ;' / Mr. McCallum (Wairau) considered the proposal in the Bill a huge act of corrup- ' tion;.and h6 moved to; amend the clause so as to provide that the right Of purchase of tho freehold by L,I. P. tenants should only -apply, to future lessees. • : . •■■ * Tho Prime Minister pointed out that the lease in perpetuity"waswiped out by the Act of 1907, '«> that even if carried the amendment would be .useless. r Mr. Russell (Avon) said a great deal of objection Would be overcome if it were decreed that one man should hold only . oris selection. /If .that were done aggregation would be prevented to; a certain ex- j : teii-fe. :"'"■'" I iSjjir. Hindmarsh (Wellington South) con-1 sidejred that the L.I.P. tenants had been | well .treated' in s the/past, and that there I was no necessity to: extend to them any further privileges. Mr. Atmore(Nelson) considered that the proposal in the Bill; was "a ; fair one. The State would get the'better of the bar-1 gain, if /it/ could /persuade /the L.I.P; ten- i ants to give up their; leases and acquire I the freehold.. He: considered that thefree-. hold was more likely than the leasehold'to result in a full volume of' production.., ; As long 'as the State had the right of taxation.. it did, not matter /whether, the land'-'- r was held under the : leasehold Or the; freehold tenure. , '\;-}^: : .-' ' Mr. McGaUnin's amendment was lost oh - the voices. ■ • - ":•'..-. Mr. Witty (Ricearton) 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 18. , •.'•'■ Compulsory Residence, ! Mr. Eussell (Avon) moved to add a proviso providing; for compulsory residence. .. The Premier quoted the existing law to show thai residence was not compulsory in certain circumstances even now." _ MrrHihdmarsh said that the Prime Minister had been a traitor to the small man on the land. ■>■■ Mr. Okey: Is the" word; "traitor 5 '- ■ for order? , -;:;-■>■./■ [f -'■'•>■': - - Mr. Massey: Oh, I don't mind. It is good enough for the member for Wellington South. ;:.-■ -.;: /, , Mr. Hindmarsh: It is good 'enough for the man who ! shouted out rats; rats;'' last night. ~ ■•■• Mr.' Massey; That statement is "absolutely contrary to fact. T would like to express my meaning in different words.Mr. Hmdmarsh: Xbh'cari'do so. . Mr. Ell (Christchurch South) contended that Mr. vMassey had previously supported > the principle involved' in the amendment. y; Mr. Russell urged that if the Prime Minister ;_ did hot-support his .amendment: he put himself in the position of endorsing' the aggregation of these leases. The Prime Minister said-ht> refused to place, the leaseholder tenants in a worse position than they are at present. - : ' Mr. Wilford (Hutt). contended that the limitation of area was absolutely essential to the development of the Dominion. The onjy nay to atop; the aggregation of estates was to put a clause-on .the title of every .piece of land, pointing oat .that it was.subject to the restriction of area provisions of the Act. . ; Mr. Russell's- Amendment Lost. /Mr. Hanan (Invercargill) contended that they should make full provision that land should be utilised as fully as possible for productive purposes, and without that limitation of area was no use, " The Prime Minister remarked that ?! the amendment was agreed to the Bill would not be worth toe paperJt was printed on, .. On adivisior, Mr. Russell's amendment was lost by 46 votes to 23. - Mr. Wilfordl(Hutt) moved an. amende ™ e , nt providing- that' every certificate of title should: bear a statement that it '*s subject to; the limitation of area provisions of the Act After discussion Mr. Wilford ; withdrew .his V amendment, the > Prime Minister saying ho would consult his legal ; advisers as to the best way: to achieve +lieobject aimed ac, . '. '

Sale of Crown Lands 'i Tlie Prime Minister moved to amend clause 20E by ' providing that all ; moneys derived from the sale of Grown; land shall be paid into the Land for Settlement, account, so as to be available for the purchase of other Crown , lands. - The pre*, pogal wis agreed to oil the voices, ; ■■■, v Mr. Witty moved .an amendment to clause 21,'t0 provide that land subdivided b y..: a private ,- owner shall ba disposed of -by ballot instead of by public tender as proposed by the Bill. v ; The Prime Minister expressed the opinion that. the .tender . system would prove to be better than the .ballet svs-, J tem. It was time thev gave it a trial * Mr. Davey (Christchurch East) subrmtted that the ballot system had the superior merit of being fair to the owner and. the tenant alike. \ j , Mr. Witty's amendment was negatived i by 35 votes to 28, and the clause \\-a* passed. v" • Consideration of the Bill was. continued after the telegraph office closed this mom-' ing. ■ : v. : ~S;r: ; ;