WITH THE LAND COMMISSION [BY TELEGRAPH-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1905, Page 2

WITH THE LAND COMMISSION [BY TELEGRAPH-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WHANMSAUEI, 20t'h May. At the Land CoinmisMon, tho evidence practically of nil witnessna favoured tho freehold. M.my loaso -in - perpetuity tenants at M7ingaWliia complained that lands wero 'loaded 4s per aero for roa<ling, but, very littlo of the money was spent. They dosirwl tho frwholil, and mostly favoured elettivo Land Hoards and hoiiicsileiul with 'improvement clauses in place of residential. Mr. Crane, auctioneer, to ten thousand acres of forest »oserve from which timber was removed, but it was not a valuable settlement nnd was growing \\c<k!s. A share of the gum and timber royalties ought, he said, to no given counties i«r roading. Mr. Wflkelin, President of tiho Farmers' Union, was a Ktrong advocate of the freehold. Tho Advances to Settlers Act, hfc sft-id, Worked satisfactorily. Other Icase-in-perpotuity settlors folt the insecurity of tenure. Tho MaungaUipere Farmers' Union had petitioned that no further private estates bo bought until all unoccupied native and Crown lands had been thrown open for settlement. Ono settler said no had been attracted to the colony on account of the liberal land laws. On arrival in the district five yoars ago ho took up a gorso section, but he had sinco sola it. Ho still held ten acres freehold, although he was a believer in land nationalisation. Ho considered that not 10 por cent, of the freeholders owned the»r land on account of mortgages. The Commission will leave for W»iroa on Monday. Greai interest was taken in tho proceedings hero.