GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14703, 10 December 1909, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. HOSPITALS BILL. The Council insisted upon its am<mdmenU in the Hospitals and Charitable"lnstitutions Bill, and appointed manners to confer with the managers from the other House on the subject. AND SEAMEN BILL. In committee on the Shipping and Seamen Bill, the following amendments were made on the motion ot the ATTOBNEY-GE.sEItALi-In subsection (b) of section 5 (which deals with the yautmi' of certificates), the provision that the holder of a master's certificate for shins under 59 toiw shall not be entitle** to' command a ship over that tonnage, w,ts altered to raid, Xut more than 100 tons." On clause El, relating to notice of accidents to »c given to a superintendent, (he liabilitv for such notice was restricted to the master, the employer being exempted. Sum-? other amendments, of a minor character were effected, and progress was reported.

DESIGNATION 07 DISTRICTS,

The Designation of Districts Bill, which provides that the Governor-in-Council may alter the names of boroughs, counties', etc., and that in all such alterations and in iiiture namings preference shall be given to original Maori names, was read a. second time. LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE. The ATToKNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Land Settlement Finance Bill, received from the Houra. He explained that the purpose of the bill was In promote the closer settlement of land by enabliry groups of purchasers to buy an estate for subdivision among them, and to raise the purchase money by means of a loan guaranteed by the Government. By this means it was hopsd lo stop the drift of population into the chief centre*. The bill' might not,be perfect, and it might be,thought it would not achieve the lesults expected, but he would point out that it was not so much dependent upon the terms as upon the spirit in which the measure was administered, and he thought the result would justify -what was proposed. However crude tho terms of the bill might be, he eontitkvecl 'that tho bill was .a really good, workable measure.

The Hon. Mr M'CARDLE seconded the motion, .and spoke eulogistical ly of what the Government had done in the matter of land settlement. He had advocated closer settlement as fov back as 1875, and he looked forward to a great advance in closer settlement under this bill.

The Hon. Mr EIGG said lie was quite willing to ,'jive the Government credit for just intentions in the matter of closer settlement, but he believed, the measure was capable of producing evils. It helped those who wer-3 capable of helping themselves, but did not provide land for the landless. Even if tlfe use of the measure, as they could not make use of land without capital? The first people who should have received the consideration of the Liberal Government were those who had families and who were in want, and .nothing had been proposed for the amelioration of the lot of these. lie- would have been glad to have seen an energetic administration of an improved homestead system. The bill proposed would encourage all the evils which former Libera! Administrations had attempted to suppress. In the evening Mr RIGG continued his speech, lie pointed out that while all might be right in prosperous times the sections would bo abandoned during a financial crisis. He went on to deal with the financial aspect of the proposal, and expressed doubts as to the results to the settlers and the Stale. The bill was welt intended, but it was a bad proposal. It w;is badly conceived, and, all consideicd, he would voto against it. The Hon. Mr ANSTEY announced his intention to heartily support the bill, but said ho would nevertheless criticise its provisions. While the principle of the bi'l met mill his approval, lie feared that the measure would be inoperative in a few years, lie went on to point out many difficulties in the way of combinations of persons taking advantage of the act.

The Hon. Mr PAUL declared that the new land policy of the Government was in opposition to the traditional policy of the Liberal party. The Government,' had mistaken the freehold noise for strength. He would have to oppose the bill.

The Hon. Mr M'GOWAN said ho would support the bill, as pulling people on the Ji'iid was one method of relieving the labour market. Ho wanted to sec tho bill rm on, not b.'caiEfl ho liked it, but be-

cause, it was the best thing he could get. It would, however, be difficult to carry out the act.

Tho Hon. Mr BEEILAN said he failed to sco that the bill would benefit the poor man, as land could not be taken up without capital, After furuicr discussion the ATTOR-MKY-OKNERAL replied, and on the motion being put Mr PAUL called for a division. The second reading was agreed to by 16 votes to 3. HOSPITALS BILL. A fresh Committee of Managers was appointed, consisting of the Hong. Dr Findlay, Collin-, and Beehan. to confer with the managers from the other Chamber on the amendments made by the Council in the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Hill. Tho Council adjourned at 10.15 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. TEACHERS' PASSES. The Education Committee reported on petitions praying for a continuation of the free week-end railway parses for teachers, and recommended that the Government should favourably consider the same.

In the evcniiv; a message was received from the Legislative Council slating that Die Council couid not accept- the reasons of the House for disagreeing with the amendments made in Die' Hospitals ami Charitable Institutions Bili by the Upper House. y The Hon. Mr FOWLDS moved Dial the reasons assigned by Die Council be disagreed with, and that a fresh committee, consisting of Messrs Sidey, Fraser, and Fowlds. be set up to confer with Die Council on the amendments. The reason? assigned by the Council for Us action arc—(l) As regards Die new clause 66a. because it, is expedient., in the interest* both of institutes and training medical students, that this clause be" inserted : (21 as regards clauses 71 and 72. because it is expedient that such provision should be made: (3) as regards the second '■chednlc, because no such institution as the Denni'ton Hosnital exists. FTUKVIUY SOCrFTTF.S BILL. The rimtE MTXTSTF.T? moved "the second rca<lin<r of the Friendly Societies Kill. He explained that b« intended !o delete clause 15, nrovidin? for an actuary certifying to conlvih"tmiis before re"!S(ration, on account of the siron? objection raised by. a prominent friendly society. *h M.ARSEY said the bill was a committee one, and he approval at the (Iropnfne of. clause IS. Messrs Joinings. Wilford, Davev. Anderson, and liiiicl; supported the second readme Mr STALLWrVRT-HY *v,\ that, everv wciety should have an adequate scale " f contributions as provided for >u clause

Mr POOLE expressed regret that no satisfactory solution had been arrived at with the friendly societies in regard to clause IS. In the interests of the lodges ■it was a pity that the bill should be hekl in suspense. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ADMINISTRATION. Consideration of the report on the Land for Settlements Administration Bill was then taken. Mr MASSES refened to the amendment which ho had moved in Uie bill, and said that Hie divisions thereon showed that, in spite of the freehold provision in the Land Hill, tiie Government was still sympathetic to the leasehold principle.

Mr ELL quoted figures to disprove Mr Ma<isey's contention" that the optional tenure was the best.

The debate was continued by Messrs Ross, Willy. Russell, Ilanan. Jennings, Buchanan, Field, and Scott,

Sir J. G. WARD then replied, and the bill was read a third time and passed. The House rose at 1.25 a.m.