LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 19966, 4 September 1926, Page 8

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

LENGTHY DEBATE ON LAND LAWS. THE STATE'S POLICY. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, September 3. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 pan. to-day. The Hutt Valley Land Settlement Bill, the Local Bodies Loans Bill, the Finance Bill, the Dentists Amendment Bill, the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill, the Main Highways Amendment Bill, the Waimakariri River Improvement Amendment Bill and the Education Amendment Bill were received from the House of Representatives and read the first time.

The Council approved of the amendments in the Mildred Elaine Smyth Divorce Bill made by the House. The Veterinary Surgeons’ Bill was passed without amendment.

A lengthy debate took place on the Land Laws Amendment Bill permitting the sales of national endowments lands and reinvestment in cities.

The Hon. Sir Robert Stout said the Bill involved a huge mistake and declared it would be an enormous advantage to the State if the leasing system had been adhered to. “We must look to endowments to keep taxation low. If leases were abolished it would be wrong for the State, a generous landlord, to hold the land and control it and the management of land would be left in the hands of wealthy people and wealthy corporations. To allow some people to be landlords and not permit the State to be a landlord was illogical, improper, unsound and contrary to all economical doctrine.” The Hon. R. Moore disagreed with Sir Robert Stout and submitted that the present endowment lands would be worth very much more to the State wljen sold and the proceeds reinvested in cities* The proposal was in the best interests of production and settlement. The Hon. J. A. Hanan blamed the introduction of freehold for excessive land gambling and declared leasehold would have prevented the drift to the towns. Leasehold enabled a poor man with little capital to get on the land and also secured a limitation of area. He deprecated making a raid on the public estate. EVENING SESSION. Upon resumption the Hon. G. Witty declared he would oppose any move for the disposing of national endowment lands. The Hon. Sir Frederick Lang spoke in support of the Bill. The Hon. E. Newman said if it had not been for freehold tenure in the North Island the greater part would still be standing bush. The Hon. M. Cohen said the people had shown in no uncertain manner that they stood for freehold.

The Hon. T. S. Weston said most of the reserves vested in local bodies did not make a sufficient return for their value.

The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre said he would like to see the principle extended to the Westport Colliery Reserves. The leader, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, said there was always the danger of relying upon country endowments as they might be affected by the slumps. He admitted that the Westport leases were unsatisfactory but something was being done in an attempt to improve them. A motion by Sir Robert Stout negativing the sale of endowments was defeated by 20 to 2 the Hon. G. Witty being the only supporter. An amendment by the Hon. W. H. McIntyre in regard to an extension of the principle to the Westport leases was lost on the voices.

The Bill was put through the final stages and passed. The Council adjourned at 10.35 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Monday.