PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 38, 29 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.' (Per Press Association.) Wellington September, 28. Tho Council met at. 2.30 p.m. Replying to the Hon. Mills, who asked why members of the Legislative Council did not receive copies of the invitations extended to eight members of the New Zealand Parliament to bo present at the Coronation; and also whether the Minister would lay the correspondence on the subject on the table. Sir John Findlay said the answer to tho first question would be found in Hansard, No. 10, 1911. In answer to the other question he said “No.” Leave was granted to tho Hon. O’Rorke to introduce a Bill to enable tho Senate of New Zealand University to grant degrees in divinity. The Hon. Ormond moved that the Council expresses its satisfaction with tho land settlement proposals outlined in tho Financial Statement, especially that in addition to tho present system for the disposal of Crown lands, settlement by associations of intending settlers was to bo encouraged in conjunction with the construction ot public works. Tho Government, he said, wore projecting a railway connecting Hawke’s Bay with the Bay of Plenty, and there was an opportunity for carrying out an effective scheme of settlement. Much of tho land between Gisborne and Opotiki was first class, though south of Gisborne, if not so good, railway construction works would provide employment for settlers in the vicinity. If the Government carried out such a scheme it was essential land should ho acquired compulsorily from natives and Europeans alike. It would, of course, require a good deal to acquire these lands, but in tho end it would bo found to pay twonty-fold. Acquisition should bo made in advance of the railway. This system of settlement would result in the revolution of the lands settlement question to tho advantage of the Dominion as a whole.

Tho Hon. Kelly socondod the motion. He insisted that workers and not speculators should be given facilities to procure land. The Hon. Anstey said the ballot system was not so much at fault as the administration. All sorts and conditions of people were enabled to enter the ballot. He went on further to say tllat no system of settlement could be successful without a means of outlet. The great difficulty in the acquisition of land by. tho Government was that the price asked was beyond the productive value, and to remedy this he suggested a system of graduated land tax from £SOOO upwards in , grades of £SOO, so as to make it impossible for holders of large estates to retain them. The present system of taxation had not been satisfactory, because ,it was erratic, unjust and consequently ineffective. If the Government adopted some such method it should be followed up by a bold and comprehensive land policy. The Hon. Luke, referring to the defects of the ballot sytem, suggested the advantage of discriminating between tho old settlers and tho now arrivals. Tho debate was adjourned, and tho Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tho House mot at 2.30 p.m. Tho Waikowhai Park Bill was road a third time, and passed. The Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill was read a second time. The House went into committee on tho Mount. Hntt County Bill. Tho H< :uso resumed at 7.30. Tho Heathcotc County Boundary, City of Christchurch Empowering, M csgiel Borough Empowering, Awatero County and Franklin and Manakau Counties Bills were reported from committee. Tho Ashley Sub-division and Wai-makariri-Ashley Water Supply Board Bill was reported from committee.