HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14700, 7 December 1909, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Shipping and Seamen Bill and the Designation of Districts Bill passed their final stages. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATION BILL. In the evening Sir J. G. WARD moved the second reading of the Land for Settlement Administration Bill. He explained tho principal clauses in the bill as they related to finance, lands administration, limitation of areas, modification of tho Workers' Dwellings Act, and alterations in the valuation rolls. It. would bo necessary to extend the authority given under the State-guaranteed Advances Bill from half a million to one million for the purposes of buying lands for settlement, including Native lands. The whole of tho money raised would be guaranteed by' tho Government, to bear interest at 4g per cent., and to be ));ud into a separate account to be called the land for settlement account. At present the owner of an estate acquired comptilsorily by the Crown had the right to retain for bis own use 1000 acres of first-class land, 2000 acres of second-class land, and 5000 acres of third-class land. Under the bill these areas would be reduced to 400 acres of first-class land, 1000 acres of second-class land, and 2000 acres of third-class land, so as to bring the bill into line with the Land Act. These areas would be sufficient, seeing that the land dealt with would bo improved landjn a state of cultivation. The bil l amended tho law giving the right to employees to leases Ijeforo going to ballot, as it had beeil found that men who had never been on tho land could obtain leases. Tho concession formerly extended to employees who were working on an estate at the time of its acquisition and who had been working for five years previously thereon was withdrawn, and employees would have to take their chances in the ordinary way. The bill contained important modifications in conconnection with workers' homes. Land could be compnlsorily taken in a borough or within a radius of 20 miles of a borough, tenders to be first called for suitablo land. Before this provision was applied owners of land in a borough could retain four acres for their own use, and in the case of rural land 11) acres. ■. These provisions replaced those contained in section 16 of the existing act... Land so taken would be leased to workers with the right of renewal, with the object of allowing them the freehold. The allotments for workers would be half-acres in towns, five acres in the suburbs, and 10 acres in the country. Tho biil provided that tho increased valuation appearing on the subsidiary roil should cease to take effect until the properties were subdivided or when a request was made for their cancellation. The bill repealed section 52 of the principal act, and provided that successful applicants in ballots under the

act vho disposed of their lands should be disqualified from taking part in future ballots for live years. Successful applicant* for rural lands would be required to reside continnonsly on their allotments lor 10 years.

Mr MASSE Y said the bill evidently contemplated the passing of the Stateguarantoed Advances Bill, and would not seriously interfere with the Lands for Settlement Act. It was good that this act should come up occasionally for consideration, so that attention could be drawn to the fact that insufficient provision was made for the small settler. He hoped that when the bill was passing through committee provision would be made for men of energy with small capital to settle on limited areas of land.

He had exacted "that some tttempt would be made to improve the methods of tho land for settlement schcmo in the direction of granting the freehold to settlers, lie regretted that the visual details had not been given of the progress made by the estates thrown open for settlement. In regard to the reduced limitation of areas allowed to be held,

Mr Masscy said this ought to be based on the size of a man's family, each case being treated oil its merits. There was no necessity for the compulsory provisions in the bill providing for taking land within a 20-mile radius of a town having a population of 5000. Under the existing law it had never been necessary to take

land conipulsorily. These proposals would

operate harmfully on farmers near towns, and would create a feeling of unrest. He approved of clause 30, which made it necessary for a man to hold land for live years before disposing of it. The lui, was mostly a committee bill, and he would deal further with it when it reached the committee stage. Messrs RUSSELL, ERASER, and

BUICK also spoke

Mr ALLEN said the bill meant altering tho nature of the security offered by the Dominion for loans. Was the Prime Minister pawning our freehold estate to London financiers? There was no provision for Native lands in the bill, though the amount to bo borrowed had been in-

creased from half a million to one million for the purpose of applying the provisions of tho act to Native lands. The compulsory clauses in relation to suburban lands were too drastic, and would arouse opposition in committee.

Messrs liucluiiian. Newman, M'Laren, \Yitty. \ Wilford, llrown, Lang, Ell, Duncan, Hme, Herries, and Okev continued tho del>ato, wliicli dealt- largely with tire general question of J ami tenure. Mr HOGG strongly opposed clause 24. which provides for taking land in and around boroughs, as this would act prejudicially on small farmers, such as thoso ai'ound his own electorate of Masterton. He hoped the clauso would bo struck out in committee.

Sir J. G. WARD replied, and ridiculed .Mr lion's fears as unfounded. Tho Government, had never taken land from A small farmer, lie would not have the slightest objection to striking out the word " compulsory." Ho had the most absolute contempt for the nonsense talked by men who posed as the workers' friends, yet who. when a bill was brought down to help them to get liomes, opposed it. Nothing had been said about the reduced areas proposed undoT the bill, though limitations had been constantly agitated for. The best friends of land settlement were the men who realised their responsibilities and that it was impossible to go on borrowing money for closer settlement. It, ought to uo the policy of the country not to go upon the London market for the money required for land settlement. > After midnight the bill was read a third timo.

LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE BILL. Sir J G. WARD moved tho third reading of tbo Lanfl Fisanoe Bill.

Mr MASSEY approved of the principle of tho bill, but said lie believed that the Jiimit of the area in respect to lands near towns (50 acres) was too high, and ill the case of rural lands (200 acres) too low. Messrs llerries, Iline, Buick, Guthrie, Buchanan, and Allen continued the debate. Sir J. G. WARD, ill reply, pointed out that provision was made in other bills for the purchase of small areas. The bill was then read a third time on tho voices, and passed. The House rose at 0.55 a.m.