LAND FOR WORKMEN'S HOMES

Otago Witness, Issue 2369, 27 July 1899, Page 15

LAND FOR WORKMEN'S HOMES

» IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS IN THE BILL. Compulsory powers modified. an alert opposition. '*"' v-(Froi£v -(Froi£ O.tjr. Own Correspondent.! ' • * . . WELLINGTON, July 23. Seldom,, if ever, has any Opposition done better work than Captain Russell and his colleagues did while the House was in Committee on the Land for Settlements Act Amendment Bill. The measure had the name of the Hon. "W. Hall-Jones over it, but that gentleman, for some reason or other, took no part in the discussion, the Premier taking charge of the bill himself. One of the raost remarkable featiires of the debate was the pliable and conciliatory disposition exhibited by Mr Secldon. To anyone who remembers his overbearing and uncompromising attitude four or five years ago, when he had an overwhelming majority at his back, the change that has lately come over the parliamentary scene is most striking. Now we find the leader of the Opposition confident, vi^ilaut, and full of de--termination, while the Premier is ready to concede almobt every point about which his opponents are in real earnest. The result is that the Land for Settlements Act Amendment Bill emerges from the Committee ordeal a. very different measure from that originally introduced. Its most dangerous and objectionable features have been removed, and liumerous safeguards Rgainst injustice to individuals have been inserted in response to Opposition criticism, so that the bill as it now stands is as much the work of Captain Russell and his followers as of the Government. One o£ the most important discussions was that concerning the fixing of the amount of compensation to be paid for land compulsorily taken. The bill merely provided for the actual market value. It was pointed out that this might- work out most unfairly in many instances, and the case of a man who owned a dairy farm was referred to. The taking of such a man's land involved the breaking up of his business, for which he would receive no compensation. The Premier and hia followers at first stoutly opposed any modification, but eventually Mr Seddon agreed to insert words providing, for compensation for " loss to the claimant's business occasioned by such compulsory taking." This was a very material improvement. Then again the original bill applied to all boroughs and town districts, but the Premier agreed to strike out town districts, and" to confine the operations'of the measure to boroughs of not less than 15,000 inhabitants, and the radius from the borough boundary within which land may be taken was extended from five to 15 miles. The bill as introduced gave the owner the right to retain only five, acres, but the quantity has now been increased to 10 acres within a borough, and 50 acres outside a borough/The owner is also given the option of insisting on the Government taking the whole block. Strong opposition was shown to a new clause, proposed by the Premier, giving the Government the right to take compulsorily land vested in > trustees without powers of sale. This, it waß pointed out, threatened religious, university, and charitable endow--ments in all parts of the colony, especially in Auckland and Otago. A. warm debate took place on the, question between the Premier and his Opposition critics. Mr Seddon eventually gave way, and the compulsory element was removed from the clause, and the bill as amended only gives trustees power, if they are so minded, to sell or exchange as if they were the beneficial owners with power of sale, and this power applies only to land required for workmen's homes. One- of tha most important -alterations is the new cla.se inserted on the motion of Mr Masspy, which reads as follows: — "No land shall be taken compulsorily for the purpose of workmen's homes until after tenders have

been called for land suitable for the purposs nor until, in the opinion of the Land Purchase Board, every other means of 6btainiug> suitable land has been exhausted." Tt is furprising that the Premier^shpuld have agreed to accept this clause,- and it will -certainly have the effect of -.very considerably limiting the compulsory powers conferred by the bill. In fact, the,, general opinion appears to be thafe it will practically do away with compulsory sales as regards Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, where plenty of owners will be found quite ready to sell at fair prices. The operations of the measure, so far as compulsion is concerned, will, it is believed, be almost entirely confined to the neighborhood ot Wellington. It is hardly necessary to say that the Opposition are very satisfied with the success which has attended their efforts to improve the bill and for the amendments which they managed lo carry they deserve the best thanks of -the colony, and more espeoially of the smaller settlers m the neighbourhood of boroughs and town districts, whose homes and means ot livelihood were endangered by the original