THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12461, 26 March 1906, Page 4

THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

« ■ . • VISIT TO CHEVIOT. The Minister of Lands, during tie visit to Cheviot, attended the ball given by the Settlers' Association on Friday evening, and delivered a efhort address. Heferring to the Cheviot Show, at which he wae present that afternoon, he said that the display of horses was a very good one, there being some firetcla» hacks and harness horees on exhibition. He did not see many dairy cows at the enow, and he would recommend the committee that for future shows come provision (should be made for dairy cattle. He believed there were some good cattle in Cheviot, and he hoped that they would be well represented at tie next show. The Cheviot district, when he caw it about sixteen yeare ago, oontained less than fifty people. Now there were a good many hundreds on the estate, and they were all doing well. The Government would have to get more land for the young men and young women who were now coming on, and there was plenty in the Amuri to lae«t for a few yeans. Hβ thought he would have to get the Land Purchase Inspector to go round the district very Shortly to soe whether the Government could not take up another very suitable place for settlement, and that would give another opportunity for the yonng people to found homes for themselves. On Saturday morning, a deputation, consisting of Messrs G. Forbes and T. Gee, representing the holders of email grazing runs, waited on the Minister relative to the tenure upon which those rune were held. Mr Forbes Raid that the tenants held the rune for twenty-one years only, without the option of Tcnewal. A petition from the tenants had beon sent to Parliament, and the matter had also come before the Land Commission. The lessees wonld like some assurance that their leasee would be renewed at the end of the term. All they aeked was the right of renewal at a rent to be fixed by arbitration. Mr Gee Raid he had received a reply from the Petitions' Committee recommending the Government to grant the requests of the petitioners. Mr Rutherford, Ohe member for the district, had informed him that the matter would be dealt witb when the next Land Bill wae framed. The Cheviot tenants were eimply asking to be placed on. the same footing » the Crown tenants on other settlements. Mr Duncan: T suppose that would be fain Mr Gee: No good object would be gained by turning out the present eettlem at the end of the period. Mr Duncan: I do not suppose it would if it could be avoided. The Minister, in reply, eaid he would look into the matter to see whet could be done. A Land Bill would no doubt be introduced daring the coming session, but one was never certain whether * Bill would get through all its stages without a capsize. ; Mr Forbes mid that another difficulty was that relating to improvements. The conditions as to compensation were very vague, and it was left to the discretion of the Land Board to say whether the improvements made were necessary. Mr Duncan said the regulations were framed to stop people putting on unfeasonable improvements that would frighten eway anybody elee. A tenant might load the land in a> way ttat wae quite unnecessary, and which would havo to be taken tiy the next incoming tenant. He did not think the Land Board would disallow anything epent in putting up comfortable homes, for he thought it was to the advantage of everyone that euch homes ehould be erected. Mr Gee: We are getting no allowance for tree-planting or ploughing. The Minister: I don't euppose you are. . Continuing, Mr Duncan mid that treeplanting would require to be under some regulations, for it might be overdone. Dtiring his term of office he had not found any difficulty concerning the valuations put on at the expiration of the terms. Mr Duncan left Cheviot ehortly after nooOi coached to Ethelton, the present terminus of the Wai para-Cheviot railway, and took the tram to Chrietchurch, where he received a deputation in the evening. He leaves for Oamaru by the first express to-day.