PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 33, 9 October 1913, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

[PSR PBKBB ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, October 8. ■ The Legislative Council mot at 2.30. Tr Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones vas sworn in as a member of the Ooun•il, and was congratulated upon his appointment by members. Sir W. -lall-Jones thanked Lhehon. gentlemen or their kinUy welcome. He hoped and believcd that ho could be of service to the Council in assisting to promote the welfare of the Dominion. Tho Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill was read a second dine and put through all stages. The Council then went into'Committee 1 on;the! New Zealand Institute of Architects Bill, which was passed with- , Djnii,am6udment,i:and: subsequently ;read : a third time and passed. The LojC.al Election and Pol Js, Amendmerit Bill was takqn in Committee. (was reported on furthericonideratioii of Clauses 4 and 18, and the Council a* 4.50. , - . HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. fi | _ C■■ • i j The Hjiuse met at 2.30. ■, , In reply to Ministers said that the necessity of improving tho quality of some of the cheese exported last season" is'fully recognised by tlicv directorates of dairy companies, and | also by the Government. The matter had been thoroughly gone ' into at many There is' -every''reason Jo bejieye; that« as a result •the quality of ithis season's output will' show;' a considerable advance.

The matter <?f the contributipn to the Captain. Scott Memorial will receive consideration wlien the Supplementary Estimates are being dealt with. Legislation already exists with regard to. compulsory vaccination, bu,t has not been enforced of late years. Inquiries would be made into the alleged ineffectiveness of - the- lights at Tory Channel entrance. The date on which the general electoral rolls will close in election year will receive consideration when the Electoral Bill is before the House.' Officers of the Defence Force sent Home to undergo training are not under obligation to remain in the service on their return to the Dominion, but such obligation will be imposed upon them for the future.

The inspection ot .-'.istitutions at Rotoroa Island is now being carried out at regular intervals.

THE LAND BILL.

Mr J. Escott continued the debate on the Land Bill. Mr J. A. Millar said he could nofc understand the South Island members voting for the sale of .such lands after their experience in the South, where people had to leave for the North if they wanted to acquire a section. The land did npt belong to past or present generations, but to, the future generations. He contended that there would he a revolution in the Old

Country in the very near future on the question of freehold. The provision for acquiring the freehold of Crown land should also apply to private property. 11 such were done he would approve of the Bill in toto, despite the fact that it gave away endowments. The names of the men who sold Crown lands would be cursed by future generations.

Mr C. A. Wilkinson said that he did not believe that a revolution would follow the sale of Crown lands.' The

1 sufferings endured by the had -block settlers entitled them to all the increment possible. He desired to see large estates suitable for closei settlement cut up for that purpose. He favored a reasonable increase of the graduated tax. Mr J. Robertson said he hoped in j the near future that a party would be | able to propound a more just and equitable method of dealing with the land problem.

i Mr J. Craigie held that the leasehold system had in the prv->t been eminently successful, and had been the means of placing many good settlers on the land. If there were a referendum to-morrow on the question he was convinced that the result would be

against selling one aero cf Crown land. Mr R. W. Smith said that the Bill would assist a number of settlers who were laboring under hardships, but it j did not go far enough, and he was i consequently disappointed. It was regrettable that it did not provide for cite settlement of another acre of land. The. Bill failed to provide any means by which those requiring to get on the [and could attain that end. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr W. A. Veitch declared the Bill was designed to build up a land-owning class. It would be bad for New Zealand when that condition was achieved.

Mr J. A. Hanan declared that the leasehold system had been responsible lor settling the land of the country. Selfishness and avarice were triumphant under the Bill. Mr H. M. Campbell advocated the freehold being granted over all classes of Crown lands.

Mr J. 6. Coates contended that the rational sentiment of the people was for the freehold, and they would have

Mr H. Atmore said the question was not of tenure but of closer settlement, ar.d the country wanted to look to a man who could give the House a clear lead on the question of the breakingup of big estates. The Prime Minister dare not do it in his present environment. rl»'

The debate was icontinued by Messrs Reed, Young, Webb, and Hindmargh, the two former supporting: and the latter opposing the Bill. At one o'clock Mr Masaey replied, characterising the Opposition as being exceptionally futile, and at his own instigation a division was called for on ihe second reading of the Bill,: the result being: Ayes 49, .Noes 18. The House rose at 1.20 a.m.