THE LAND BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8557, 16 October 1907, Page 5

THE LAND BILL.

. + (By Telegraph—Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 10. The House resumed, in committee, the Land Bill, on the clause giving preference to the landless at the ballot. Mr W. F. Massey said ho desired to see preference given to applicants with small capital and a family, rather than as at present to new men with large capital. Mr Ar W. Hogg approved of the clause as one calculated to prevent the stuffing of the ballot box with people who desired land for speculative purposes. The clause was passed. At the following clause, giving preference to married men or widows with families, Mr A. S. Malcolm moved to make preference contingent on the applicant having a practical knowledge of farming. Mr A. W. Hogg, in opposing the amendment, pointed out that, in his experience, there had been artisans of various kinds, without previous knowledge of farming, who were now amongst the most successful farmers in the North Island. The Hon. R. McNab expressed surprise at the amendment, and asked how people were to be got out of the towns. Replying to members who favoured granting single men preference, the Minister said that he favoured married men, and pointed out that it was usually single men who were-used as dummies by the speculator. However, he was prepared to strike out the words "with children" after "married men" to meet the view of the objectors. Mr Massey urged giving encouragement to young single men, though not altogether at the expense of married men. The Premier paid that he had suggested to the Minister for Lands that the clause should be struck out and a new one drafted making provision for ca3es in which land was not suitable for married men with children and to encourage single men to go upon it. The Hon. R. McNab indicated that a new clause would be drafted which, while giving preference to married men, would not exclude single men. The clause was struck out. At tie clause giving preference to former applicants, who had competed at least twice unsuccessfully at any land ballot, Mr J. T. M. Hornsby moved to strike out the words "at least twice." The Hon. Mr McNab agreed to strike out the clause, with a view to introducing another at a later stage. The debate i 3 proceeding.