HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12593, 6 September 1905, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tho House met at 2.30. MATAMATA TENANTS. Considerable discussion took place in connection with the petition recently presented by Mr. Lang, on behalf of a number of tenants on the Matamata estate, who* asked for a rebate of rent in consideration of tho fact that they were unable to obtain possession of -their sections until October 1, 1904, or Tthreo months after the date on which tho payment of rent commenced. The report of tho Land Committee on the petition was to the effect that the petition bo recommended to the Government fo'v favourable consideration, and this was adopted by the House. THE LAND DEBATE. At 4.55 p.m. Mr. Houston resumed the debate on the Premier's land progisals. He complained that the Lands ommission went through his electorate with their eyes and ears shut, and that tho special requirements of the north of Auckland had not been attended to by them. He advocated the liomestead system for his electorate, juid strongly objected to the ballot system, which ho declared had been the means of driving many good would-be settlers out of the country. He was in favour of allowing the lease in perpetuity settlers to convert their holdings into the tenure of occupation, with right of purchase, on condition that they paid the extra one per cent. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The Housa resumed, at 7.30. Continuing the Lands debate, Mr. .I/awry strongly objected to leases in perpetuity already granted being altered to occupation with the right of purchase, ancl contended that if any leseo wanted the freehold he should surrender the lease and pay the full value •of his holding. Mr. Rutherford said he was a freeliolder straight out. He was prepared to advocate the selling of every acre of -Crown land in tho colony, reserving those lands necessary for national parks and making safeguards for the restriction of areas. The land, he urged, deteriorated under the. leasehold system. Ho hoped the Government would not pasa a Land Bill this session, but that they would circulate a Bill. Sir W. Steward considered it was not ■desirable to grant the freehold to all tenants under the Crown. Nine-tenths of the Crown tenants were satisfied •with their existing leases, and the remaining tenth wouKl have been quite satisfied wero it not that they were ■disturbed by fears of re-valuation and tho proposals of extremists. Mi. Major favoured allowing Crown tenants the option of converting their leases itno occupation with right of purchase, at an additional 1 per cent., and he expressed the opinion that 90 per cent, of them would take advantage •of the opportunity. The trouble at present was the demand for re-valuation, but with the freehold that trouble -would disappear, 'amd any deficiency in tho revenue could always be made up hy extra taxation. Mr. Hone Heke agreed that the State ■should retain the balance of its Crown lands, and only alienate them by way of lease. On the same principle, he argued in favour of retaining the balance of native lands in the possession of tlie natives.. If they were sold, the Maoris would in time fall back on the State. Mr Allison, after, ridiculing the single tax theory, I,'if theiiand laws of the present Gov^n'metft hatf irriade tho colony,;%, claimed 'Jti^fiM'. Minister' for Larids> it --was Jttb^^fd'Un^ifeo^saiy: toalt^tjiese laws.- The,eyide|ii;^takeir by;tlie''L' arid Comm^on^showed that; -our. }arid;iass were .not. liberal,, sound** ov popular, he';'urged*'tWi^ ;#Kere;:j .'must be'& change; ,ifr uthe} ;>lffnc} \p^hfe|,' 'Tfe>i attitude: taken! up^bF'the :P#nier. was;'a, reittarfcablo iaekttOwleMe%enl- of apolitical'inettfetudo; an^.im^tende;- -" ' Mi\ Diitihie 'said the' P.r&njiei Js. action IriYplieQ:iricdmpetericeT-^^bifoftl^^jC •land"1 .pbli^,'■.and tie; 'tirged^ th'j^|for^,'; that tha; Premier w&s: utiw;6rtny,'Qf the,, confidence ■ of: the H4|fse.-: oH©'adversely'0H©'adversely' Criticised the land Ja'tfa Jst sOWl^lerigth, sind" contended that was the only: way. in which^they opuld-get: rid .-of thY evils coriiplkifyeij" 0f,,., 4 butj.. he' Believed in..the restricticmi''of.Jh'e,'area. V MrrSMins :I'main^aked" ikty i^.^M''1 413 'the lea"se in perpetuity^ not dey trimental t, o! the State; arid"' both sides <bf the' House "appeared to. be agreed that it 'would be better to leave the lease, in perpetuity out of the next Bill "rintil tho Leader of the Opposition and thosd with him had offered the freehold bribe—a policy of spoliation to the •Crown tenants. There, was very little dissatisfaction with the present landv laws. ,