THE LAND POLICY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14702, 9 December 1909, Page 7

THE LAND POLICY.

AN IMPORTANT AMENDMENT.

MR REED IN A DILEMMA,

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, December 8. _ The most important division in connec* lion with the Land for Settlements Administration Bill was taken just before 2 o'clock this morning, on an amendment moved by Mr Masscy providing for tho optional tenure in the case of all lands purchased under the Land for Settlements Act. Tli.i.s was defeated by only seven votes, tho division being us follows:—

A}« (27).—Messrs Alien, Andcison, Buchanan, Dillon, Divo, Field Fraser, Grcenslndc, Guthrie, Hardy, Hcrrios, Hino, Jennings, Lang, Marnier, Massoy, Newman. No-sv.'orthy, Okey, Pcarco, Phillipps, Reed' Rhodes, ltay, Scott, Smith, G. M. Thorn. 6011.

Noes (34).—Messrs Arnold, Iluddo, Buxton, Carroll, L'olvjn, Craigio, Davoy, Ell, Forbes, Fowlds Glover, Hall, llogaji, Laurcmson Lawry, Jlocdonakl, -R, M'Kouzie, T. Mackenzie, M'Laron, Millar Ngata, Parata, Poland, I'oolo, Ruesoll, Sed(lon, Sidoy, Stnlhvorthy, T. E. Taylor, Te Kangiluroa, Word, Witty, Wright. During the division 6cme "iniisoment was caused by attention being called to Mid that Mr Reed, who was present m the Chamber during tho division, had not recorded his vote. Tho .Chairman j eailed upon Mr Reed to record Lis vote one way or tho other. Mr 'Reed just, said lie desired to have his voto recorded with the Ayes (in favour of Mn3soy*e amendment}, but wlion some Government supporters stated that ho had been paired, and. that it was his duty to voto " No" under the circumstances, lie asked to have his vote changed to the Noes," Mi' Hardy (Opposition Whip) then took tiifl opportunity of saying that, in so far as he was conccrncd, 'there was no record that Mr. Reed had been paired. Mr Laurenson, the Government. Wliip, on being appealed to, admitted that ho had not arranged a pair in Mr Heed's case, although the latter had asked him to do so. Mr Reed finally asked that his vote •should bo recorded with the " Ayes." Tho fun in connection with the incident was increased owing to tho fact that, the doors being locked (a division being in progress), a member could only speak with his hat on, and while sitting down there seemed to be a scarcity of Tiats in the Chamber, and one bat was passed round and did duty amongst six members, with soinewha/ comicil results. LAND BILL AND ITS FATE. WHAT WILL IT BE? There is considerable doubt as to whether the Land Bill will como up for discussion during the present session, which has now only a further fortnight to run. It is evident from what can be gathered that, the Government is undecided whether to allow the bill to rest at the stago that it has now attained or whether to allow it to come up for the second reading debate before shelving it until next year. Some of the leaseholders' in the Government party state that the test division, obtained as a result of Mr Massey's amendments last night, does away, from their point of view, with the necessity for a furthel vote on the land question this session.