LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1926, Page 15

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE LAND TENURE BILL. FREEHOLD POLICY FAVOURED. MEASURE FINALLY PASSED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, .Last Night. The Legislative Council eat at 2.30 p.m. to-day. The Hutt Valley Land Settlement Bill, Local Bodies’ Loan Bill, Finance Bill, Dentists’ Amendment Bill, Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill, Main Highways Amendment Bill, JVaimakariri River Improvement Amendment Bill, and the Education Amendment Bill were received from tlie House of Representatives and read a first time. The Council approved of the amendments in the Mildred Elaine Smyth Divorce Bill, which had been made by the House.

The Veterinary Surgeons' Bill also passed without amendment. A lengthy debate took place on the Land Laws Amendment Bill, which permits the sale of National Endowment Lands and the reinvestment of the proceeds in the cities.

Sir Robert Stout said that the Bill involved a huge mistake and declared it would be an enormous advantage to the State if the leasing system had been adhered to. We must look to endowments to keep taxation low. If leases were abolished, it would be wrong for the State, a generous landlord, to hold land, and the control and management of land would be left in the hands of wealthy people and wealthy corporations, To allow some people to be landlords and not to permit the State to be a landlord was illogical, improper, unsound and contrary to all economical doctrine.

The Hon. R. Mooro disagreed with Sir Robert Stout and submitted that the present endowment lands would be worth very mnoh more to the State when sold and the proceeds reinvested in the cities. The proposal was in the best interests of production and settlement.

The Hon. J. A. Hanan blamed the introduction of the freehold tenure lor excessive land gambling and declared that the retention of the leasehold tenure would have prevented the drift to the towns. The leasehold tenure enabled the poor man, with IHtle capita), to get on the land and also secured limitation of area. He deprecated making a raid on the public estate. The Hon, G. Witty declared he would oppose any vote for disposing of National Endowment lands.

The Hon. Sir F. Lang spoke in support of the Bill. The Hon. E. Newman said if it had not been for the freehold tenure in the North Island the greater part would still be in standing bush. The Hon. M. Cohen said the people had shown in no uncertain manner that they stood for freehold.

The Hon. T. S. Weston said most of the reserves vested in the local bodies did not make a sufficient return for their value.

The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre said tie would like to see the principle extended to the Westport colliery reserves. The Leader, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, said there was always a danger of relying upon country endowments, as they might be affected by slumps. He admitted that the Westport leases were unsatisfactory, but something was being done in an attempt to improve them. A motion by the Hon. Sir Robert Stout negativing the sale of the endowments was defeated by 20 votes to 2, the Hon. Witty being the only supporter. An amendment by tlie Hon. Mclntyre in regard to the extension of the principle to the Westport leases was lost on the voices, and the Bill put through the final stages and passed. The Council adjourned at 10.35 p.m. until 2.30 on Monday.