HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 44, 6 October 1911, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, October 5

Mr Colvin resumed the chair in committee at 2.30 p.m; to further consider the Estimates.

Mr Massey took exception to the way in which the business of the country was being done. It was proposed to go on with the Estimates on tlio last Thursday allowed! for local Bills.

Sir Jas. Carroll gave his assurance that a day would ho set apart next week for local bills.

Class 13, Department of Lands and Survey, £251,888, was then taken.

Mr Herdman moved a reduction of the first item by £5, as an indication that the Government should give effect to the recommendation of the Lands Committee on* the petition of Hugh McLean, in connection with the leasing of certain lands at Wairiki. The amendment was negatived by 31 to 24. 1

Mr Malcolm then moved to reduce the item by £2, as a protest that the present ballot system for lands was unsatisfactory, and that a more equitable system was necessary. At the present time, Iso contended, the ballot was overcrowded by persons not desirous of settling on the land.

The Hon. 1). Buddo said the land settlement system was a credit to the Government, and ho instanced the area of land opened last year. Mere land had, ho declared, been opened hero during the same period than in Now South Wales.

Mr Pearce favoured a deferred payment system, with examination and selection for the disposition of lands. Tho ballot system was not working - as it should. People were sick of it. Mr Newman could not support the amendment, as nothing had been suggested as a substitute for tho ballot system.

/Mr Okey maintained that the option system was better than the ballot. Men wasted years at tho ballot. Large landowners got no sympathy from tho Opposition.

Mr Ross said the amendment was designed simply to cloud the issue and got division lists for use on the platform. The Farmers’ Union, which was tho mouthpiece of the Opposition, had declared itself against, limitation of area.

Mr Malcolm said his amendment was directed against land sharks, landgrabbers and gamblers who demanded largo sums as goodwill from genuine farmers.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Malcolm’s amendment to reduce the vote was lost by 30 to 12. Mr Nos worthy moved a reduction of tho item of £SOO for the Commissioner of Crown Lands in Canterbury, as an indication of dissatisfaction of the way in which the Canterbury runs were disposed of.—Tho amendment was lost by 30'to 24.

Mr Homes urged that tho salaries paid to surveyors wore act sufficient to keep our surveyors in the Dominion. He believed that if Crown and native land was cut up on a proper scale of pay there would, he no need for young surveyors to leave Now Zealand.

The Minister said there had been no reduction of rates paid to surveyors. Sir das. Carroll mentioned that at the present time 702,C'00 acres of native land were under survey. Mr Massey said he was disappointed to hud that only £877 had been spent hy tho Crown last year out of the £2OOO voted for the purpose of dealing with noxious weeds. Mr Bud do said he was advised that tho Department had spent £llßs in that direction.

Dealing with the subsidy of £7OO to a Wanganui steamship company for assistance to settlers in freights and fares, Mr Hogg said tho company should he made to submit a scale before any further subsidy was paid.

MV Smith characterised tho methods of tho firm as nothing short of scandalous. Unless stores wore purchased from tl;e company there was no chance of getting them conveyed up

tho river. Mr Massey said he had received a tremendous number of complaints con-

corning the freights and fares charged by the company. A definite arrangement should lie made with the firm for the issue of a scale of rates before any further subsidy was paid.

Mr Smith moved a reduction of the item by £1 as an indication of the indignation of settlers at the treatment they had received. The Hon. D. Bnddo said the service up the liver was a very costly matter. The draught of steamers was only two feet, and at certain times of the year it was impossible for them to carry anything but passengers. Representations would he made to tho Postal and Lands Departments to endeavour to secure the issue of a scale of fares.

Mr McLaren said tho subsidies paid would have bought one or two steamers. Tho State should have a steamer on the river. The company at present running tho service had a idMr Luke said the subsidised steamers should be purely cargo carriers. The Hon. D. Bnddo gave an assurance that tho Government would go into the matter with a view to helping the settlers. Mr Smith’s amendment was carried by 3G to 15, and the item was reduced. Wellington, October C. After midnight, Mr Buchanan objected to the unbusinesslike methods in which the Valuation Department was carried on. The valuator’s salary was insufficient to ensure the securing of satisfactory work. Mr Massey complained of the appointment of men notoriously unfit as valuators. Mr Ross said he knew of a case where a man who had been found guilty of falsifying a roll had been employed by the valuator as assistant. Sir James Carroll said any such evidence if submitted would receive immediate attention.

Hie Hon. D. Buddo said if any proof were forthcoming that any person in the Department had a black mark against him the case would bo immediately dealt with. Mr Poland said the Valuation Department was under staffed. Too much money was paid out to casual valuers.

The total vote passed, and on the motion of Sir James Carroll, progress was reported at 1 a.m.