HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 25 October 1912, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2-30. PUBLIC SERVICE BILL. Tho Hon. Herdman moved that amendments made by the Council in the Public Service Bill be agreed to. Sir Joseph Ward objected to the powers proposed to be vested in the Comnv'ssioner. Mr. 6. W. Russell said that any responsibility which had been in the hands of tha Minister would be removed by tho passage of the Bill. The Govern r ment desired to say if the scheme failed, that the fault was on the part of the Commissioner.. 'Mr. W. A. Veitch asked what was going to become of a Government which took every individual by the throat and said. "For the future you must approach us. We are a. Government, and we aro going to rule you as we think fit." In his opinion the Commissioner would deteriorato into an autocrat. Mr. E. Newman said the measure would exclude political influence, which hftfl beeri so much in evidence in the past. Tho Houso adjourned. The House met in the evening. Consideration of the Land Bill in committee was resumed at the clause which proposes to enable the holder of a lease, in perpetuity to purchase the freehold of his holding. Mr McCallum considered the proposal in the Bill as a huge act of corruption, and moved to provide that the right of purchase of ttlie freehold by (Q.I.P. tenants should only apply to future leases- . , . • ■

The Premier pointed out that the lease in perpetuity was wiped out by the Act of 1907, so that, even if carried, the amendment would be useless. Mr. MeCallum's amendment was lost on tho voices. Mr. Witty then moved that the fee simple may be acquired at a price not less than the present day unimproved Fair.-,, The amendment was lost by 48 to 19. Mr. Russell moved to add the following proviso to sub-clause 1 of Clause 20: " Provided that the fee simple shall bo granted on conditions as to residence shown, in Clauses 159 to 161 of tho principal Act." This would provide for compulsory residence. The Premier quoted the existing law, to show that residence was not compulsory in certain circumstances even now. Mr Hindmarsh said the Premier had been a traitpr to the small man on the land. Mr Okey: Is'the word "traitor" in order ? Mr Massey: Oh, I don't mind. Mr Ell said Mr Massey had previously supported the principle involved jn the amendment. Mr 'Massey said h e refused to place the leasehold tenats in a worse position than they were at present. Mr Wilford said the oniy way to stop the aggregation of estates was to put a ctauso on the, title of every piece of land pointing out that it was subject to the restriction of area provisions of tli© Act. Mr Russell's -amendment was lost by 45 +o 23. x Mr Wilford moved to amend Clause 20 of Section 1 by providing that every certificate of. title should bear a statement that it is subject to the limitation of area provisions of the Act. After discussion. Mr Wilford withdrew his amendment,, on the Prim© Minister stating tha he would consult legal advisrs as to the best way to achieve he object aimed at. On the same clause,, on tho motion of tho' Premier, it was agreed that all moneys derived from the sale of Crown lands sliall be paid into the land for settlement account, so as to be available for tho purchase of other Crown lands. Mr Witty moved -an amendment to Clause 21 to provide that land subdivided by a private owner shall be disposed of by ballot instead of by public tender, as proposed by the Bill. The Premier expressed the opinion that" the tender system would prove to be better than the ballot system. It was time they gave it a trial! Tho amendment was negatived hj 35 co 28, and the clause passed.