VACATED FARMS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19127, 10 October 1927, Page 11

VACATED FARMS.

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. [THE PEBSS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, October 8. Following overtures by the New Zealand Farmers' IJnion, the Minister for Lands (Hon, Mr McLeod j has issued a statement on various aspects of the" Government's land policy.

On the question of vacated soldiers' farms the Minister remarks that -ever? effort is being made to find tenants tor these farms as soon as possible, and that m order to assure early occupation of the holdings, reasonable offers are frequently accepted as soon as they are made. Any soldier who has vacated Ins farm is able to avail himself of the usual opportunities afforded for the selection of lands administered bv a Land Board/, points out the Minister when dealing with the question of reinstatement of the men, and on proved ability to handle farms, soldier settlers are being re-established on reasonable terms, at their own request .However, tho Government cannot see its way to assume responsibilitv for any rates on abandoned farms beyond what the Crown is legally liable for nor can it assume the responsibility o i' the previous occupier for the clearance of fence lines.

The Farmers' Union had urged that no lease of Crown, privately owned or native owned land should be permitted for over 20 years, unless there was included in the lease a clause for compensation for improvements, or for renewal at a rent assessed on the value at the date of the original lease, this rent to be settled by a - competent °?i 1 * The ' Minister points out that all leases and licenses of Crown lands for .terms exceeding 20 years give lessees full protection for the unexhausted value of their.improvements at the end of the term. With regard to leases of Education Reserves, legislation lias been prepared fc>r introduction during the present session, which would enable lessees of rural education reserves "to convert their existing leases into leases with a right of perpetual renewal, and thus be given full protection for the unexhausted value of their improvements at the end of the term of their leases. The Crown cannot entertain favourably. a suggestion that rents reserved by renewed leases shall be assessed on values existing at the date of tho original lease. The Lands Department has already taken action in the matter of granting reductions and postponements of rent and interest, in addition to reducing capital values so as to ensure the profitable occupation of the holdings of discharged soldiers, and it is hoped that all are now favourablyplaced. With reference to the revaluation" s of lands, the Minister declares that the Department is making every effort to bring valuations into line with presentday conditions 'at the earliest possible date. A number of counties where revision was particularly urgent' will be completed in time for the new values to, take effect for next year's rating, and the revision of the others will follow on the relative order of urgency;