PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 9, 26 August 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association... Wellington, August 25. Tiio Legislative Council met at 2.30. Sir Maurice o‘Horke moved “that this Council is of opinion that it is desirable that tho Government should appoint an emigration officer in Ireland, and another in Scotland, to facilitate emigration from those countries, and that each emigrant of 21 years of ago should receive 40 acres of freehold land in Now Zealand.” The Hon. Mr Luke, while not agreeing with the whole motion, took occasion to emphasise the importance of more vigorous immigration, public works, and land settlement policy. This country should have a far larger number of settlers on its lands than, it lias. The Hon. Mr McCardle urged the necessity for closer settlement, but objected to the proposal to give blocks of land away. The Hon. Air Calian said (he scheme was impracticable. If the free grant portion were left out he would vote for the motion, for he agreed with the importance of immigration. The Hon. Air Beohan expressed similar views. The Hon. Messrs Anstey and McGowan opposed tho motion, which was lost on tiie voices. The Council rose.

MOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tho House mot at 2.30. Mr L. M. Isitt, the newly-elected member for Christchurch North, was sworn in, and took bis seat. The Methcdist Charitable and Educational Trusts Bill was read a third time and passed. Speaking to the Lands Committees’ report on the Land Amendment Bill introduced hy himself, Mr Newman asked that the Government should take up the measure, as it was impossible for him to go any further with it as a private member. The Bill provided for increased representation by Crown tenants on land boards. Mi Jennings supported the application for increased representation of tho Crown tenants. The Hon. J). Buddo said tho Bill aimed at the reduction of Government nominees on land boards. Ho had never had any complaint about representation in land boards, must of the duties of which were purely statutory. Tho Crown tenants interests were essentially their own, and no concern of the land boards. • Mr Guthrie said there rvas no desire to infringe on the rights of tho Government nominees. Ho regretted the Government would not take the Bill up.

Mr Russell said land boards wore merely vehicles for registering decisions of tho Government departments. Hff held that greater local knowledge was ncessary to properly carry out the functions of land boards. Land districts and _ land boards should % be increased" Mr Ell maintained that land boards were very important institutions. With regard to increased representation, he hold that the Crown tenants were only a small section of tho community. Mr Hannan hold that Crown tenants had not shown the interest they should have done in land board matters. The Stone Quarries Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Hon. G. Fowlds moved the second reading of the Auckland Grammar School Site Bill, which provides for a suitable / site for the school on the gaol reserve at Mount Eden. Tho Bill was read a second time. The Hon. G. Fowlds moved the second reading of tho Education Reserves Amendment Bill, which extended the powers of High School trustees and removed restrictions under tho Public Bodies Leasing Act, 1908.

Mr Field applauded the objects of the Bill. The powers conferred by it wore * urgently needed by the school trustees. Mr Kerries welcomed the Bill from the point of view of tenants on high school reserves. The Bill was read a second time. The Patents Design and Trade Marks Bill was read a third time. The Hon. J. A. Millar moved the adjournment of the House to enable members to meet and welcome the Premier. The motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned till Tuesday. The House rose at 5.30.