COMMENT IN PARLIAMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12879, 27 September 1912, Page 5

COMMENT IN PARLIAMENT.

ONLY HALF : THfe GOVERNMENT'S! :■%-. PROPOSALS. J y (From our Parliamentary Reporter.) H y '•■ WELLINGTON, this day. ! iAt the freqttest, of members, the -Prim**' fiiister .informed the House as to some the provisions m the Bill- Upon Mv ! Stasisey resuming his seat, Sir Jamers" Ofcrrojl remarked that so far as lie could 1 understand from what the hon. gentleman had explained of the Bill it was a' n^ere mass of machinery clauses and detail amendments. "So far as I have heard, the Bill does not attack any ; high principles at all such as we were led to anticipate from the great Reform I Government," said Sir James. - *] Mr Poland asked if there was any provision m the Bill for improving th? _— Umrre of the Hauraki Plains land.

"Ir there any proposal m it to alter the existing classification of first, second and third-class land?" inquired Mr Buchanan.

Replying to Mr Poland, the Prime Minister said that as far as the Hauraki laifds were concerned the officers of the Finance Department had arranged that if legislation were required, ;a new clause should be brought dowu.-and inserted .m the Bill, but at present the officers .'of the Department thought legislation was not required, but that new regulations would be sufficient for the purpose. Replying to Mr Buchanan, the Prime Minister said there was provision for re-classification of Crown lands. He thought the Bill contained as many provisions as was possible to deal with this session. "We nave really only half our proposals m the Bill," added the Prime Minister. "The other half will be brought down next session." Sir James Carroll showed some anxiety as to the date of the second reading. He hoped the Ministry would be strong and explicit about its freehold attitude.

The Prime Minister : As to the second reading, there will be no "taihoa." (Laughter.) Sir s James .Carroll i All I can say is that the Government has so far profited by the taihoa, principle. (Renewed laughter.) Tlie Bill was referred to the Lands Committee.