N. Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1761, 22 August 1885, Page 14

N. Z. PARLIAMENT.

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION. Wednesday, August 19. There was quite a little breeze in the House this afternoon, and for about a quarter of an hour there was real excitement. Sir George Grey had asked in the ordinary course whether "tho Government intended to undertake the construction of the East and West Coast railway as a Colonial work. To this question the Premier refused to afford any information until the PubHe Works Estimates were brought down. Major Atkinson, Mr Bryce, and others thereupon complained at the delay in the delivery of the Statement, and remarked that the Opposition had been very patiently waiting for this Statement, which they had been led to expect five or six weeks ago. The excuse set up by the Premier for the delay was that the Government had been assailed almost daily for some weeks past with rumours of a no-confidence motion. Then all the fat was in tho fire, and the secrets of the Opposition were bandied about from side to side of the House. In a vigorous speech Mr Fergus criticised the position of the Government, and told the Premier that if the no-confidence motion, which the Premier had ho satirically referred to had been brought on last week, the Government would have been ousted from office. Now that it had been delayed, however, the circumstances were altered, and the Government had no doubt been able to operate on those weak-kneed men who once were opponents, but who might now be induced to change their views and support the Government. Mr Fergus spoke in some warmth, as also did other members, of the Opposition side, which may possibly indicate that their apparent disappointment was consequent upon the conviction that there is now small chance of a no-confidence motion this session, or at any rate small chance of a successful attack. Mr Dargaville, another prominent member of tho now little heard-of middle party, also spoke warmly and forcibly on the "stillborn " no-confidence motion, and hurled irony and keen sarcasm at Mr Ormond for his want of backbone in withdrawing from the position in which the Opposition had been ready and willing to place him. Mr Dargaville's speech was quite the speech of the session, and upon resuming his seat lie was applauded to the echo. Deducting from the various remarks made during the discussion, it seems to bo pretty certain that the East and West Coast railway will be provided for in the Public Works Estimates.

During the discussion Mr Hurst took occasion to twit the Government with having delayed the production of returns which had been ordered weeks ago, as to the expenditure incurred in furnishing Ministerial residences, about which some sensation is promised when the returns are produced.

It will be remembered that it was stated the assessment of properly tax would be made this year upon the new valuation list, and it was pointed out that if that were done, the revenue from that source would fall short of the estimate, inasmuch as property having depreciated in value, the new valuation would be less than the old, and the revenue would therefore be smaller. Fortunately for the Government, however, the new lists are not yet ready, and the assessment -will therefore be made on the old valuation list.

The Public Works Statement will probably be delivered on Tuesday next, and the duration of the session is variously estimated at three weeks, a month, and five weeks ; but as everyI body knows, this must be decided altogether by circumstances. GOVERNMENT INSURANCE ASSOCIATION. In the Legislative Council, The Hon. Mr PEACOCK moved that a poll of policyholders in the New Zealand Government Insurance Association should be taken as to whether central boards should be abolished. The Hon. P. A. BUCKLEY' pointed out that policyholders already had legislative power io pass any resolution they might think fit. After a short discussion, the motion was withdrawn. OTHER BIIXS. • The Fire and Marine Insurance Bill and Proceedings Validation Bill were read a third time and passed. The Middle Island Halfcastes Grant Bill and l Public Reserves Bill were read a second time. The Invercargill Loans Consolidation Bill was amended in committee and reported. RAILWAY SIDINGS. In the House of Representatives, Replying to Mr Smith, if the Minister for Public Works will modify the regulations lately gazetted for private sidings on railways, so as to exempt existing sidings entirely from their operation, and also to make a reduction 6n the charge to be made for any new sidings that may be granted, The Hon. E. RICHARDSON said the whole question would be subject to reconsideration. BILLS PASSED. The House went into committee on the Property Law Consolidation Act Amendment Bill, which passed through committe with an additional clause. j THE LAND BILL. The House went into committee for further consideration of the Land Bill. In clause 56, in case of forfeiture payment to be in the discretion of the board, Mr DONALD REID took exception to this clause, pohtting out the hardship which Would result to small holders, who, in case of forfeiture, would receive no compensation for improvements. Mr SCOBIE MACKENZIE moved to omit from the clause the words *• subject to approval of the Governor." . „ The amendment was lost on a division by 45 to 19. A lengthy discussion ensued on clause 64, providing that leases, &c. are to be signed by the commissioner, and covenants and conditions as to rent, transfer, &c, to operate as if inserted in all leases. "£r DONALD REID moved to strike out of the elau^ 6 " that leases and licenses shall be anbippt to coT enants expressed by " The Propert?Law Consolation Act 1883" in relation to payment of rent anfi distress.,' The Hon. J. BALLANCE agreed to accept the amendment. THE LAND BILL. , On clause 70, board may hold inquiry, and cancel lease or license in certain cases, Mr PYKE moved the following addition: "Provided always that the board have discretionary power to dispense with personal residence on satisfactory reasons being given for non-residence. During the discussion which ensued, Mr PYKE said the land laws of the Colony were penal laws, and he should in all cases treat this bill not as a consolidation bill but as a measure to amend fcde law. He alludded to the compulsory action of the Otago Land Board, where a girl was provonted from sleeping in her father's home. The Hon, K. STOPT saitl tfcftt fa fte ease

alluded to there had been deliberate evasion of the law.

Sir GEORGE GREY said the people in respect to land were no better than slaves. They were compelled to pay 'for their land, and then all sorts of hard comlitions and restrictions were imposed on them. They had no representatives on the land boards, for the members of those boards were nominated by the landowners.

The Hon. W. ROLL.ESTON said Sir George Grey's arguments were to do away with any conditions being imposed. Sir GEORGE GREY said he was arguing in favour of conditions without money payment.

Mr IVESS did not think that uniform conditions of residence for six years would be calculated to advance settlement.

Mr PYKE contended that the present Minister of Lands, as well as the late Minister, had no idea of the proper way to settle people on the lands Speaking of the present system, he said whole families were driven to leave the Colony because of the harshness of the Land Board of Otago.

Mr HURSTHOUSE thought the difference between the Minister for Land and the member for Dunstau and the member for Auckland City East was a difference of degree as to the conditions of deferred-payments. He said that under ordinary circumstances a" residence should be enforced, but he thought ' the power of dispensing with it might be left with the land boards. It was reasonable to leave those boards some discretion and power to act in the manner desired. !

The Hon. J. BALLANCE said the object of giving the boards the powers conferred on them was to prevent 'dummyism. He hoped ihe coin Imittee would not accept the amendment of the member for Dunstan. ' , Sir GEORGE GREY said they were discussing the most important measure that had come before them, and he thought it would not be out of place to devote a whole session to the consideration of the Land Bill, as was done in New South Wales. He asked what would happen if one portion of the population were ,to own large tracts of land and never to reside on them, but draw large rents. He thought it would lead to the poor-law system being introduced. He had for a long time administered the affairs of a country in which the perpetualleasing system was in force, and it really amounted to a land tax. That was the reason why he wished to see it here. ' ' Mr' SCOBIE MACKENZIE supported the amendment of the member for Dunstan. He considered that if the waste lands boards were •not to be trusted to administer the power given to them, the sooner they were abolished the better Mr DONALD REID contended that 99 out of every 100 were bona fide applicants at present, and it was an unfair proceeding to impose stringent provisions for the single case of dummyism. Mr Pyke's proviso was finally carried on a, division by 35 to 34. Clause 76, providing that on forfeiture of deferred ■ payment license commissioners may sue for arrears, Mr DONALD REID moved that this clause be struck out. The amendment was lost by 37 to 24, In clause 106, providing that if there are several applicants the land is to go to auction, Mr IVESS moved that, in the event of two applicants applying for one section, the land should go to the person first applying, and make it a penal offence to wrongfully mark the applications as to the time when they were received. The Hon. J. BALLANCE said that would not be practicable. Mr DUNCAN suggested that "public competition by tender " be struck out and " ballot" inserted, Mr IVESS 'accepted this, and withdrew, his amendment. ~- Mr. Duncan's ameudment elicited a lengthy ..discussion, and was lost by 38 to 27; In clause 108, providing who may be selectors, Mr HISLOP moved to strike out the words "No selector having resigned his interest hereunder." • The amendment was carried by 31 to 28. Another amendment was proposed in the clause, but was negatived on a division. In clause 110, upset price to be 50 per cent, over the ordinary price, Mr IVESS moved to insert one-quarter instead of one-half to be added to cash price. — Agreed to. l Mr PYKE moved the following addition to the clause: "Provided that after the expiration of three years from the date when any block of land has been opened for selection the price of any unsold section in such block may be reduced to the cash or upset price, as the caso may be." * Agreed to. Mr PYKE moved in clause 116, providing that boards may in certain cases dispense* with residence on land, to strike out the words " wholly or mostly covered with bush." The amendment was lost on the voices.

On clause 125 being reached, providing that boards may reduce the original valuation of improvements, Mr PYKE objected to the clause, pointing out that it was too wide, and that under it the board might reduce the valuation of 'improvements from £500 to £5. , • The Hon. R. STOUT defended the clause.

Mr DONALD REID opposed it. Mr COWAN hoped the clause would be retained, contending that it was the proper power to place in the hands of boards. Mr PYKE deprecated, pushing the bill through at such a late hour, when there was scarcely a quorum present. He said a bill of such importance should have been discussed at an earlier period of the session.

evening.

Mr J. M'KENZIE was surprised that the member for Dunstan should complain that the Government were pushing the bill through the House at a late hour when the hon. gentleman himself had stonewalled the bill earlier in the evening. ' Mr PYKE denied that he had been guilty of stonewalling. He had only spoken twice on the' bill in the early part of the evening. , MrSCOBIE MACKENZIE said there was a very hard case in his own district bearing on the clause, which he considered was a mostiniquitcma one. Mr MACARTHUR moved that the board may, with the consent of the original selectors, reduce the orginal valuation. ' Agreed to. The Hon. J. BALLAN. CE moved to report progress. Agreed to. BILLS PASSED. The Property Law Consolidation Act Amendment Bill and New Plymouth Exchange Completion Act Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed.