HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 85, 31 July 1914, Page 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

afternoon session. The House met at 2.00 pun. Mr Russell gave notice of intention to introduce the Legislative Council Reform Bill. In reply to Mr Ell, the Premier said he would be glad to consider the question of exempting from taxation land sot aside by private owners for the purpose of native hush preservation. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first timeWairau Harbor Board Foreshore Grant Bill (Mr McCallnm), Unregistered Nurses Registration Bill (Mr Payne), Electoral Reform Compulsory Voting Bill (Mr Payne), Takapuna Borough Fore, shore Vesting Bill (Mr Harris), Wellington City Milk Supply Amendment Bill (Mr Hiuclrnarsh). LAND, AND SETTLEMENT. The Premier moved to lay on th table the annual report of the Lands Department, accompanied by a supplementary report showing the number of Crown tenants who have taken advantage of the opportunity to acquire the freehold of holdings under the legislation of 1912-1913, Sir Joseph Ward strongly objected to the Advances to Settlers Department lending money to Crown tenants to purchase the freehold of their holdings. This was utterly wrong while other settlers could not get tire assistance they required. Mr Wilford quoted a letter from the Department, refusing an application for £l5O, owing to heavy demands on the Department’s funds. Mr Hine declared that while Sir Joseph Ward was in power he (Mr Hine) had borrowed money from the Advances Department to purchase the freehold of leasehold lands. Hon. Alien characterised the Opposition criticism as a scrap from their next budget. Every settler must now understand that if the Opposition came back into power no money would be available for the conversion of leasehold lands into freeholds. in reply to Mr Wilford, lie staled that the reason his constituent could not get a loan of £l5O was that the money was required for tine re-payment of a .mortgage. If Mr Wilfhrd’s friend applied now. no donut the money could bo got. Mr Russell declared that the object of the Government was to push up the rate of interest by creating fresh ’ competition in the shape of every Crown tenant clamoring for money that ought to bo available for other settlers. He proceeded to criticise settlement results under the Massey Government, claiming that “after all their bluff, bluster and bragadocia,” they were still short of the result achieved by the Ward Government, The debate was continued on party lines by Messrs Wilson, Ell, Wilkinson, Forbes, Witty, Anderson, Young and Payne, until the dinner adjournment, when the Premier’s motion that the reports be laid on the table was tallied out. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. Mr Veitch moved the second reading of the Proportional Representation and Elective Voting Bill. After a lengthy debate, in which the Government was accused of breaking its pledge to introduce electoral reform, the second reading was lost by 28 votes to 27. The House rose at 12.30 a.m.