DETERIORATED LANDS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18668, 17 April 1926, Page 10

DETERIORATED LANDS.

AREAS IN NELSON DISTRICT. SECURITY FOR LOANS. (SPBCIAS TO "THE rBESS.") MURCHISON, April 16. In company with Mr R. P. Hudson, M.P., the Hon. A. I>. McLeod, Minister for Lands, is at present making a tour of the Motueka electorate, principally with a view to deciding whether areas should be proclaimed to be subject to the Deteriorated Lands Act, which was passed last session, When he was met at Murchison this evening by a large gathering of .hitlers, the Minister stated that he had seen conditions during his visit to the district which were quite as bad in the matter of reversion to second growth as anything he had seen in the North Island, where the provisions of the Act were already being applied. At the request of Mr Hudson he had already obtained a report from his Department, and he had now decided to isaue directions to proclaim the provisional areas suggested by his officers to le subject to the Act. This would include a large area in the Murchison district. Speaking on the subject generally, the Minister stated that in some respects the Act would be difficult to administer. The committees to e set up under the Act would have ro difficulty in making recommendations in regard to the remission of rentals, but he wanted to state definitely fcnat i.o advances would be made unless the Crown could secure priority to :uiy existing mortgages. That was only fair to the general taxpayer, as 1.-.an moneys could not be advanced to assist soldiers which would merely result in improving; the position of the moitgagees, who were now holding a rapidlv depreciating asset. With existing Government loans the position would 1 be more simple, as probably the Lands Department would be able to register a joint first mortgage with the Department concerned, but even in that connexion careful investigation would have to be made.