LEASE SUBDIVISION

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 24, 28 July 1922, Page 6

LEASE SUBDIVISION

Some classes of land lease are as subject to subdivision (and also reaggregation !) as freeholds ; but the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce reports that there exist in the Te Kuiti district large blocks of Native land held under a form of lease that is not subdivisible. Writing to the. Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the Te Kuiti Chamber points out that closer, settlement is the key to increased primary production, and adds::...' Standing in the way of closer settlement, however, we have various large blocks of land held bY lessees from Native owners. As many of your business men are aware, it is impossible to subdivide the Native leases and give a decent title for these various subdivisions.- We ' had before us at our last monthly meeting a proposal to get legislation enacted to enable subdivisions of Native leases, and issue of individual titles for reach subdivision (which individual title -will be just as good as the original lease). The Te Kuiti Chamber asks for the Wellington Chamber's co-operation. On the face of the proposal, it would seem that the interests of the Maori lessor will not suffer by increasing the number- of leasees; and, if that is so, and if, as Mr. H. D. Bennett says, the present lessees ; themselves would like to subdivide their holdings, thqn the case for subdivision appears to be strong. To-day is a time tp farm land, not to hoard it. Subdivision of land at economic values—not the values of 1915-21—is all for good.