PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10171, 4 October 1894, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(Feom Ouk Own Oobbbspondknt.) ', Wellington. Ootober 3. The Colonial Treasurer introduced no less than five new bills this afternoon. Thu elicited from Captain Kutsell the question -when the Government would mentiqn which of the other 4-1 measures still on the Order Paper they intended to discharge. In reply to this the Premier stated that none of the five bills .referred to would occupy much time, but thsy were necessary to make the legislation of the session perfect. This declaration was received with laughter, "for instance," the Premier went on," there was the Distillation Bill—merely a departmental measure," and, he added with a smile, " the forerunner of prohibition " The House laughed again. Mr Seddon then asked members, to, help the Gaveronient to got on with the business, and do the work properly before they left. Dc Kewmau inquired, "Are there any more bills ? " and the Premier reassuringly replied, "No"; not many more."

. It will be remembered that one of tha objections urged by Sir Robert Stout to the Advances to Settlers Bill was the fact that it would give men special facilities for gettiug into debt and mortgaging their homes. He said at the time that a homnstead act, which would prevent the homes of settlers from being seized for debt, would be much, more advantageous to the agricultural population. Sir Robert has now given notice of a measure called tije Security of Homes Bill, which provides that any man may set aride cot exceeding £5000 wsrth cf land as a home. Provision is made for registering the home, and anyone can do so if be is not in debt, or if in debt has olher property sufficient to pay bis debts.' Before the laad can be sat aside it must be advertised/and creditors and others can object. Once a home is registered it cannot be seized for debt or touched in any way. It cannot,be msrtg»ged, and must remain as a home so long as the settler lives. On bis death it goes to his wife and family, and they can keep it as a secured home. The object is to secure, homes. which no one can touch, and which the settler cannot dispose of or encumber in any way.