F.—No. 1

No. 1. AD INTERIM EEPOET. The Joint Committee appointed to consider and report upon all Bills introduced into the Legislature, relating to Waste Lands, have agreed to the resolutions contained in the accompanying memorandum, defining the course of proceeding which it appeared to the Committee to be its duty to adopt with reference to the aforesaid Bills. Alfeed Domett, 31st July, 18GG. Chairman of Joint Committee. Copt of Resolutions adopted by a Joint Committee of the Hon. the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives appointed to consider and report upon all Bills introduced into the House relating to Waste Lands. Clause Ist. That since the repeal, in 1858, of the Acts which surrendered the power of Legislation on Waste Lands to the Provincial Legislatures, the initiation of organic laws relating to the Waste Lands has been generally exercised by the Provincial Legislatures. Clause 2nd. That without any express declaration on the subject having been made by the Assembly, the practice has hitherto been for the Assembly not to legislate on the subject of the Waste Lands of any Province unless the wish of the Provincial Legislature that legislation should take place had been previously expressed. Clause 3rd. That nevertheless, while the Assembly has not on the one hand originated legislation on the Waste Lands, it has never relinquished any of its powers,by which it appeared to the Assembly expedient to be guided. Clause 4th. That whenever the measures proposed by any Province interfered with the general principles and policy by which it appeared to the Assembly expedient to be guided or affected, whether directly or indirectly,— the public creditor, the safety or welfare of neighbouring Provinces, or the rights and claims of the various classes of its inhabitants, —the Assembly has not only amended the proposed provisions in accordance with its own pleasure but has constantly originated provisions for securing fairness to the respective interests concerned. Clause sth. That while the duty of the Committee, as defined by order of reference, appears to have been to examine and consider the provisions and principles of any Bill referred to it, it has nevertheless been the practice of Waste Lands Committees to suggest and recommend any such alterations in the provisions of any Bill submitted to it as seemed necessary to embody and carry out the policy it approved of. Clause 6th. That if this view be correct it follows that the course of proceeding should generally be as follows in the examination of Waste Lands Bills :— 1. To ascertain whether the proposed legislation is substantially in accordance with the desire of the Provincial Legislatures. 2. To ascertain whether it interferes, and if so, in what way, with settled practice, resolution, or precedent. 3. To ascertain whether it affects the public creditor, and in what way. 4. To ascertain whether it inflicts injury on any interest or class, or unfairly deals with their claims. 5. To point out for the action of the House the general way in which any such injurious provisions can be provided against. 6. To suggest the form in which such provisions should be made. 7. But wherever the proposed legislation did not interfere injuriously with any public or private rights then the Committee should abstain from making material alterations in the provisions recommended by the Provincial Legislatures. Alfred Domett, 31st July, 1866. Chairman of Joint Committee. No. 2. THE OTAGO WASTE LANDS BILL. The Joint Committee appointed to consider all Bills affecting Waste Lands of the Crown have examined the Otago Waste Lands Bill referred to them, and recommend that the same be passed into law, subject to the amendments and alterations advised by the Committee to be made therein and particularly specified in the Schedule hereto appended. With respect to the policy involved in the clauses of the Bill mentioned below, the Committee offer the following remarks : — Ist. That in the opinion of the Committee the restriction upon the amount of valuation for improvements, in section 78, is opposed to public policy and injurious to the interests of the Province;

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REPORTS OF THE WASTE LANDS BILLS COMMITTEE.