LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5515, 17 September 1892, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Oouncil met at 2.30 p.m. THIttD HEADINGS. The Dempscy Trust Bill passed its final | .stages. j MB lAND BILL. : Bit P. Buokley moved the second reading of lbs Land Bill. Mr Stevens adversely attacked the provisions of the Bill. Ha objoeled to electivo land bourds and ridiculed the idea that married women should be debarred from selecting land or that parent should cot be allowed to tttko up land for their children on the absurd ground that they might be guilty of duramyism. He opoko m favour of tho diforrcd pa»mont «yetein and alii of the freehold tenuro, tho abolition of which system would inevitably prove disastrous to the tenant and the revenue, which would be unable to find the fees for tho surveyf, etc. He was convinoed that the 89 years leas.c would not prove acceptable to the majority of the people, and besides which the settler* would be unable to borrow money unless at usurious rates of interest. Be predicted that the Bill if passed would not only cripple tho farmers, but would have the effect of d'iviDg them from tho colony. He strongly opposed the one-man-ono-run dlauae, nud he aluo objected to power being yested m the Minister of setting apart 250,000 acreß per year for village ncttlements, as calculated to place 100 much power m the hands of the Government of the day, m addition to which it would injure other systems of tenure. Pr Grace was opposed to the perpetual leaße scheme, as also of clause 44, by which the Oro«n inielifc caooel a lease without hearing evidence. Ho etroogly opposed women being debarred from acquiring homos for themselves and thoir children when they we»e burdened by drunken or thriftless husbands Dr Pollen opposed the Bill. It was not land settlement so much an settlers if the good hard working yeomen of England sort, that the colony required and which they would have but for the blatant cry of the iocalled unemployed and trade unionists who ruled the present Ministry. Ho expressed the belief that the Oouncil, despite threats, would do their duty to the publio and to themselves. Mr Bat'nicoat generally supported the Bill, wbilet Mr Stewart opposed it B» being calculated to withdraw money from Home at present invested m the pastoral lande, whioh if the Bill passed would be left to the rabbits. The Bill ws9 read a cecond time on the voices sod referred to the Waste Lands Committee. The Council adjourned et £ p.m.