HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13843, 15 October 1913, Page 6

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tbie House of Representatives met at 2.30 ji.m., and went into committee on the Land Bill.

On clause 41 Mr G. H. Escott■ moved to extend the torm during which a mortgagee might hold the land without l>enig required to make tte declaration proscribed by section 342 of the Land Act, 1908, from two years to five years. . .

The Prime Minister said he could-not accept the amendment, but he would give the proposal in the Bill a year's trial. If at the end of that timo it was found that .hardship was being imposed he would be prepared to ex-, tend the time from two years to three. A long discussion took place on the clause pro\ iding that holders of grazing runs may, if the Governor decides, renew the licenses at a rent to be fixed by the board for- a. similar term to that of the expired license. Eventually a division was taken, the voting being: For 43, against 18. The House then adjourned, and resumed at 7.30 p.m. The House divided on claiuse 49, providing for the renewal of pastoral licenses without going to aba Lot. The voting was: For 47, against 18. Mr Massey said that it had been stated that some of the runs had been held back pending the present legislation. The reason for holding back was to give the Lands Department an opportunity to ascertain whether they could be sub-divided.

On a division clause 47 was carried by 47 to 18. On clause 48 the owner of a. lease in perpetuity of settlement > land may purchase the fee simplo, Mr G. Laurenson admitted that the 999 years lease was a blunder, and the worst thing any Government had ever introduced, and it was done by Sir John MacKenzie at the instance of the Conservatives. If the present Government put through the Bill'"he 6aid let them. They would .have, to answer for it. He had made his protest.

Mr L. M. Isitt said greed lay at the bottom of the claim for the freehold. Cant only lay at the bottom of talk like. that. The, man »,who wanted the freehold to be able to sit by his own fire did not exist. The right to the freehold was sought so that a man could go round the country buying farms here, and selling there. That was why freehold was sought. After" the supper adjournment the leaseholders continued, to enter a protest against the granting of the freehold of settlement lands.

Mr W. D. S. Mac Donald asked the Premier if he would insert a clause, or accept a clause, clearly limiting the area of settlement lands after the freehold had been acquired. The Premier read classes in the present Act," uud declared that no more effective limitation could be devised.

The division of -clause was taiien at 11.40, when the voting was': Ay«s 43, noes 18. •

A division also called on clause, 49 extending the riglit of purchase over' s&ttleinciit lands rin ; certain cases. The clause wi:s retained..by 39 to 21. Oii clu.-ie. 50, providing funds, for the acquisition and opening up of lands ! for settlement. Sir Joseph Ward want|ed to know why Mr Massey was ! going to raise £600,000 for the .acquisition of lands for settlement when he had told the country that the money derived from the purchase of freeholds would enable the Government to dispense with borrowing for this purpose. Mr Massey replied that they had. only given the right of acquiring the freehold over the most valuable lands, and the money would not come in from that source in a week. It would take more than a year to get the clause in full operation. So far as it had gone the results were most satisfactory. Al-ready-700 settlers had applied for'the freehold. He did not think all would' ?l>pl.y, but he left certain that the majority would, and when the scheme was in full working order he was confident that £200,000 would come in every year from this source. In tho meantime it was necessary to ask for the usual amount, but if it was not found necessary to do so it would not be spent. The clause was passed without division. .

At 12.45 tlao last'clause of the Bill (•52), designed "to- check -the aggregation ofprivate lands,-.-was passedlaft-or a characteristic protest ,by Mr A. H. Hindmarsh M " .- . ' •A number of new clauses of pxirely a departmental nature were considered, and passed without amendment. At 1.31 a.m. the Bill was reported amidst applause from the Government benches, and the' House adjourned at 1.34.