MASTERTON BETTERMENT BILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7246, 29 August 1902, Page 2

MASTERTON BETTERMENT BILL.

Passed Through Committee.

In tho Houso yostorday aftornoon the Mastorton Borough Betterment Bill (Mr Hogg) was read a second timo on the voices, without dobato. Tho Bill got into Committoo shortly before 9 o'clock last night, and a long discussiojttaok placo. WT Sir William Russell urged that the Government should introduco a general measure making tho betterment principle general, and thus do away with tho necessity for bringing in legislation to deal with particular cases. Mr Fisher strongly attacked tho Bill, urging that the application of tho betterment system in Wellington in carrying out a street-widening scheme, as was proposed to bo dono in Mastorton, was an insidious attack on tho freehold. -#-■ Mr Hogg dofended tho Bill, and, in roply to a question, said a favorable poll had been taken on it ovor a year ago. Considerable objection was taken to the proposed method of paying compensation for tho land to be taken, and eventually, at 11.20, Mr Monk moved to report progress on tho Bill, holding that such a measure should not be put through hurriedly. This was lost by 40 to 11, and tho d-s----cussion proceeded. Shortly before midnight tho Bill passed through Committee with ono amendment —viz., in Clause 10, in which the rate of interest was reduced from £5 to &i 10s.