GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3471, 27 July 1899, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, July 25. The House met at 2.30 p.m. MISCELLANEOUS. A petition was presented by Mr Hogg from the Victoria College Council, praying that the Muunt Cook reserve be vested in the College. Mr McGowan gave notice to ask if the Government are in favour of establishing a Mining Board to deal with all applications under the Mining Acts. Mr Fisher gave notice that ho would introduce a Prevention of Corrupt Practices and Purity of Administration Bill. Mr Flatman gave notice of the introduction of an Elective Land Boards Bill. The Premier moved that all petitions presented last session and not reported upon be dealt with by the several committees this session. An amendment hy Mr Allen, restricting the dealing with petitions from the stage left off at last session, was carried. Leave of absence was granted to the Hon. J G. Ward and the Hon T. Thompson. FIRST HEADINGS. The Calif ornian Thistle, Institute of Surveyors, Slaughtering and Inspection, Noxious Weeds, and Orchards and Garden Pests Bills, were introduced and read a first time. PRIVILEGE. Mr Morrison raised a question of privilege to make a personal explanation. In his speech on the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill he stated that people in the Clutha district imported liquor in kerosene tins. Mr Taylor denied the truth of that statement, and said that if he could prove it he (Mr Taylor) would cease advocating prohibition till after the election. He now produced a telegram from the person who imported the liquor, not in a kerosene tin but in a kerosene box. As he had proved the charge he called upon Mr Taylor to redeem his promise. Mr Taylor said he was aware that liquor had been introduced in kerosene boxes, not tins, as stated by Mr Morrison. Therefore this statement had been proved to be incorrect. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The Premier, in reply to a question put : last week, said that he would lay the Financial Statement on the table on Friday ne:.t.

1 QUESTIONS. Answering questions, Ministers said t they Lad no intention to extend the crirn--5 inal jurisdiction of the District Courts. Ii That the attention of the irtock Deparfcc, ment would be drawn to the necessity of I preventing the intention of the tick pest from Australia. That the Government tt had no intention of extending the time of e preserving the originals of telegrams con- ,. nected with the issue of a master's certifij, cate to James Jones. Ministers had done

f their duty fearlessly in the matter, auc -> some unscrupulous opponents had tried t< 9 misrepresent their actions. In future thej f would ignore such questions, and go or 3 with the business of the country. Thai r the law was ambiguous with respect tc . claiming income tax on profits shown b\ 3 co-operative and other dairy factories and . companies as a result of dairy farming I operations, and it was intended to remove 5 the doubt. That the Government admitted the desirability of erecting a sanatoria ium at Mount Egmont, but'were not pret pared to recommend a sum of money foi ; the purpose this session. That to bring t the allowances to officers of the Railway I Department into line with the allowances . in the Post and Telegraph Department would require an alteration in the Classiflf cation Act, and it was not intended to do . ' so at present. , Mr Crowther asked if power would be . given to Stipendiary Magistrates as to ; whether or not a license should be endorsed. ; The Premier replied that the licensing law was in a very unsatisfactory condition, loading to the House, magistrates, police , and publicans being harassed. He had heard it stated that hotel-owners were now giving only month to month tenure, which was not in the public interest. Discretionary power ought to b<* given to magistrates in the matter of endorsing licenses. Another evil was tied houses, which ought to be abolished, and he thought that the State ought to have more control over licensed houses. In reply to further questions Ministers said that the Board of Trade would be communicated with, with a view to regulations being issued for a summer and winter load lino for all vessels trading to and from the Australian colonies. That to declare the Grey river a sludge channel under the Mining Act, 1898, opened up a large _ question, as there were other similar applications from Otago, and largo sums were claimed by settlers for damage done to land through dredging; the matter would be referred to the Goldfields Committee for their consideration. That registrars of electors had no authority to place the names of persons on the rolls who do not sijjn claims of enrolment for themselves. That a number of officers in the public service had passed the prescribed age of 65 for retention in th 9 Civil Service. To remove some of these m6n would result in loss to the public service, but in cases where men over the age were not able to do their duty, the Government would dispense with their services. That while recognising that persons not naturalised should bo granted old age pensions, the Government did not intend to alter the Act this session. That a Bill was in course of preparation for the payment of coroner's juries. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. LAND FOB SETTLEMENTS BILL. The Premier moved that the amendments made in the Land for Settlements Act Amendment Bill bo agreed to, H« said it

had been decided to alter the compensation to be paid, which originally was “ fair market value,” to full compensation, viz., value of the land plus compensation for loss of business. He explained the alterations made—the operations of the Act to be confined to the four principal cities, and the radius within which land may be taken extended to fifteen miles instead of five miles ; the area that an owner could retain was extended from five to ten acres within a borough and 60 acres in any other case. He had given the measure much consideration, and met the amendments in a fair spirit, while he would be no party to taking land from a person without paying fair compensation. He moved the third reading.

Captain Russell recognised that the public weal must dominate private interests, but he contended that the individual owner must not be put in a worse position when his land was taken from him than he previously held. That principle was all he contended for in the taking of land. He further submitted that where a man by special industry aud knowledge had established a business on his land, compensation should be paid for the loss of such business in addition to its value, or that the State should not be benefited at the of the individual. He did not believe in paying a sentimental value for land, but a man should not suffer loss by reason of the improvements he had made. The compulsory clause should be done away with, as, seeing- the amount of land ottered voluntarily, there is no necessity for it. He also disapproved of allowing assessors to resign, and proposed to move an amendment to avoid that difficulty. Mr Watson gave notice of a new clause in the direction of allowing people the right to pay instalments on the value of their property, so as to reduce the rent to a nominal sum.

Mr Rolleston complimented the Premier upon the spirit of compromise he had shown, and upon the proposal to compensate for loss of business. The original proposal to make the Bill apply to trust lands he did not approve of. These lands were practically in trust for the people, and the Premier very properly struck out the provision for compulsorily taking these lands. No public necessity had been shown for compulsorily taking lands. He believed that if tenders were called for land for workmen’s homes they would get plenty of land without using compulsion. Ho suggested that one-third of the land as acquired should be set aside as reserves.

Messrs Duncan, O’Kagan, Montgomery, Mills, Hogg, Tanner, and Fisher also spoke. The Premier made an appeal to the House to pass the third reading of the Bill that evening. A division took place on an amendment moved by Captain Russell that the Bill be recommitted to consider clause 4 relating to the tenure of assessors. The amendment was lost by 36 to 24. The amendments made by the committee wore agreed to on the voices. It having gone past tho hour when new business could be taken, the Premier said that the debate had been a hollow sham and simply carried on to block business. Up to this period very little business had been done, and he expected the third reading of the Bill would have been carried that evening. If members wanted to remain until Christmas he would neither bring down the Estimates nor the Financial Statement. It was no use his working up till 5 o’clock in tho morning to facilitate the business of the House if the business was to be blocked. He would undertake no further business until the Bill went through, and if it was blocked he would throw tho responsibility on the Opposition. Messrs Hutchison, Kolleston, Crowther, Sligo, and Buchanan disclaimed any attempt at blocking the business. The House rose at 12.15 a.m.