PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 31 October 1912, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Oct. 30 The Council met at 2.10.

The Lands Committee reported

the Land Laws Amendment Bill, recommending that it be proceeded with vith certain ■amendments. The Uon. Mr. Bell explained that the amendments by thr- committee were u.erelj- h.pi.'il. He asked for the committal of the Bill, : ncl proceeded to explain ts |;"v:sio r i> and the objects sought to ;>e at tai;<d thereby.

I i-c Hon. Mr. Ormond eont.- :d di\ Nt t'n> iiili would be an absoiut? fiiili rfto deal in any way satisfactorily with t :•» great question "of settlem^M. '-> held that" the subdivision proposals would be inoperative, for he had been unable to see what benefit an owner would gain from them. The native proposals also would not do a great deal. The Maori had a great idea of sticking to his land, and the temptations held out by the Bill to induce him to hand it over to the Government would not be sufficient. OthvT provisions would have to be made. He •agreed that nothing* should stand in the A\ay of genuine settlement, but he asked, where was the land that could bt .acquired for settlement The or mise made to Sir Joseph Ward by Hawke.Bay owners of large estates to subdivide and disness of their larvl had bten carried out. The only disk\.is whero large acreages »ve,e ..•v:i.;.*'jlo were between Napier and Tauranga, and between the rail 'head beyond Stratford and the King Country, m the north of Auckland, and in the VVaikato district. He asked the Government to consider the question of nati.e land. They could obtain three million acres over the North Island after leav ing the natives what land they needed, and this opened up groat possibilities. This would not interfere with th- ••uaneial operations of the country, for he had always held that the debenture system should be adopted.

The debate was adjourned. On the Council-resuming at 8, the debate on the band Bill was continued by the Hon. Anstey, who said the Bill contained a clause dealing with security of tenure for lease in perpetuity settlers. He himself had moved in this direction some years ago, and had been laughed at, but now his views were being endorsed. The first care of the Government should not be towards ownership, but as to what is the best form of hire for land to ensure the greatest possible production. Owners' rights should not be allowed to over-ride the rights of occupiers of land. The Government's first"care should be to frame land laws on a sound and just principle, next to encourage men on tho land to obtain the fullest measures of production, ia-nd, thirdly, to cause large estates to bo broken up to enable those willing to go on the land to get on to the land. Many public leasera were a disgrace to the Government of the country, and did not tend towards encouraging productiveness. The clause of the Bill dealing with preference gay« preference to landless people with families, but true preference would be to give one chance at the ballot each.to a man, his wife, and each ciiilcl.

Tho Hon^ Ansty said the passing of this Bill would seriously prejudice the titles of every holder of a, lease in perpetuity, t

The Hon. Paul ea;d the Bill v.-as revolutionising the land policy of the last twenty years. It was remedying many errors, but at tho same time'it was removing many benefits. As regards lease in perpetuity tenants, they .had prospered under present conditions, and he thought them .would be no benefit 1o them to be given the right of purchase. Tho .Bill opened tip opportunities of land speculation.

The Hon. Mills said as regards native lands he was strongly of opinion that Europeans and natives should be under tho same limitations and enjoy the same benefits. ■

Tho Hon. Bell, in his reply, agreed to the desirability of settling 'land, but let them first sco what they could do without adding millions to the country's indebtedness. As regards money advanced to natives, that was not for purchase by the Government, but simply to advance to natives one-third on account of purchase by settlers of their land.

The Bill was committed, and the lion Bell moved to report progress. The Council rcse at 11-15.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2.30

The Public Accounts Committee was granted an extension of time in which to report on the allocation of loans under the Loans to Local Bodies Act. The extension takes the date to Tuesday next.

" Mr McDonald urged the disbanding of select committees and sitting in the mornings to finish up the legislation which the Government intended to put through this session.

The Kaiapoi Reserve Bill and the East Coast Native Trust Lands Amendment Bill were read a third time, and r>3ssed.

On a motion to agree to the amendments made to the Government' Kailways Amendment Bill, Mr Isitt moved an amendment recommending that the increase of pay for the First Division should take effect immediately, instead of on the Ist A-oril, 1913.

.RAILWAYS AMENDMENT. Mr Anderson said the carrying of the amendment would kill the Bill.

The amendment was lost by 41 to 20.

The Houso adjourned, and resumed at 7.30.

The discussion on the third reading of .the Railway Bill was continued byMr Poland, who moved an amendment to re-commit tho 'Bill for the purpose of inserting a clause providing for carrying children under live years «f age free of charge. Tho amendment was lost by 37 to 30.

The Railway Bill was read the third time, and passed.

Tho Prime Minister, replying to Sir A. Guinness, said enquiries are being made as to the position of the widows and orphans of tho minors who lost their lives in the 'Mt. Lyell disaster, ■and, if nece^ary, v vote will bo placed on the Supplementary Estimates for their relief.

The J-Jon. Hcrdma.n, replying to Mr. Escott, r,aid that, in accordance with a promise made, the Government will arrange to hold an inquiry into, the affairs of th-c. Public Trmst Office as soon as the session is over.

.Replying to Mr Stntham, the Minister of Health said -the question, of encouraging midwivos to practice in the black block.* had been a subject of considerable, consideration on the part of tho department, and Hospital Boards hiui .ad vised thai: free training will be given in the St. Helen's Hospitals to those women specially recommended by the Brvards .is likely to make- suitable midwives, provided that they engage, on completion of their training, to .serve for a stated period in the more remote conn try districts. Tt is considered that this'policy is a bettor one than to insist on .1 six months' extension of the period of training for midwives, which is" now for registered nurses six months, and for unregistered nurses twelve months. If tho additional six months' course were insisted upon, it might have the effect of deterring many excellent

women, trained or untrained, from undertaking the work, and thus might result in a shortage of midwives for the Dominion. OTHER BILLS. Amendments to the Defence Bill dealing with drill halls were brought down by Governor's Message and agreed to. * The Public Revenues Bill was reported from Committee unamended. Tho Savings Banks Amendment Bill was reported from. Committee with a new clauso by the Minister of Finance enabling a bank to invest nine-tenths of its total funds. The Local Bodies' Loans Amendment Bill, the Cemeteries Amendment Bill, wero reported with minor amendments. The Marriage Amendment Bill passed through Committeo unamended. Tho Aged and Infirm Persons Protection Bill was reported with an amendment provided that any person addicted to the excessive use of stimulants may bo mado tho subject of a protection order. Bills which passed the Committee stages earlier in the evening were finally pp.ssed. Tho Houso roso at 12-20.