LAND LAWS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18460, 14 August 1925, Page 11

LAND LAWS.

A CONSOLIDATING BILL. FEW MAJOR ALTERATIONS. (SI>ICIAL TQ "THE TMSS.") WELLINGTON, August- 13. A Lands for Settlement Bill introduced to-day is mainly a consolidation of the Act of 190S and its amendments, and is complementary to the Act passed last session. With few exceptions, there has been little substantial alteration of the substance of the law. The first has reference to the right vested in the owners of leases-in-pcr-petuity of settlement land to acquire the fee-simple. As the law at present stands that xicrht is due to expire on Xovembcr 10th, 1923. This limitation of time has b£cn extended hy the Bill, and it is proposed to allow to such lessees a farther term of five years within which they may elect to exercise their right. The Fee-Simple. •Sectiou 60 of the Land Laws Act Amendment Act. 1912, which relates j partly to restrictions on the acquisition of the fee-simple of settlement land, and partlv to restrictions on the acquisition by lease or otherwise of more than one allotment o». sottlemcnt land has been divided, part of the soction appearing as Clause 50 of the Bill, and part as Clause S5. With respect to Clause 50of the present Bill, Sub-clause (2) is new in form, but is merelv an express application ot provisions that now apply to the same subject matter as contained m bub-Sec-tion (2) of Section 60 of- the Land Laws Act Amendment Act, 1912. With respect to Clause S5 of the Hp), an alteration has been made iii order to "ive effect to what was the obvious intention of the original provision as contained in Sub-Section (1) of Section GO of the Act of 1912. ' That sub-section referred only' to "settlement land. The clause in the Bill refers to land which is, or was at any time, settlement land.," ■ . If this was not the intention ot the original section its provisions as to the endorsement of certificates of title \vcre futile, inasmuch .as the restrictions would cease to operate so soon as the land ceased to be settlement laud (that \ is on its acquisition in fee- simple). The clause as now appearing m tne Bill adopts the construction that has always been placed by the Department on the present law. The limitation of 5000 acres in respect of lands that were formerly comprised in leases-in-perpetuity is also in accordance with present practice. Rent and Interest. At the present time the rental payable under leases of settlement land is fixed on a basis of W pcr cent, of tne capital value. It is proposed to increase this rate to 5 per cent. A similar increase is made with respect to the rates of interest payable in respect of unpaid purchase money, advances, etc. At the present time if settlement land is not selected .when offered it remains open for selection at t.he upset price or rental for one year, after which the capital value may be reduced. This period of one year has been reduced by the Bill to three months. In certain cases the Minister has power to remit rent in eases of hardship, but the amount remitted has first to be appropriated from the Consolidated Fund and credited to the Land for Settlement Account. It is proposed to dispense with the necessity of prior appropriation.