LAND SETTLEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 100, 2 May 1929, Page 15

LAND SETTLEMENT

COMPULSORY PURCHASE

NOT A SIMPLE MATTER

LEGISLATION POSSIBLE

Since the new Government has assumed office warnings have been given by Ministers fairly frequently, especially by the Minister of Lands, that large landowners who press for unduly hard bargains when it is desired to acquire portion of their holdings for the purposes of closer settlement may have their properties taken under the compulsory purchase clauses of the Land for Settlements Act. It would appear, however, that for the present, at any rate, tho landholder is in a somewhat protected position, and that it is likely to be a rather costly matter if the State should attempt to invoke compulsion on a large scale.

TJnder the Land for Settlements Act a landowner can claim compensation for laud coinpulsorily taken, and a definite .procedure is laid down as to the way in which claims shall be dealt with by the Compensation Court. In addition to this, however, the law allows an owner to require the unniiproved value of land to be increased to an amount which he may name in giving notice to the Valuer-General. The Valuer-General is thereupon required to increase the valuation, and to enter the amount in a subsidiary roll. Although the subsidiary roll may be used for the purpose of assessing land-tax, the right given to a landowner threatened with compulsory sale to demand practically what he likes in the way of unimproved value imposes an almost prohibitive bar on the working of the compulsory provisions of tho Act, and this appears to bo the reason why so little use has been made of them in the past. Legislation may be required to make the Act more effective in respect to compulsory purchase. A number of blocks of land suitable for settlement have been offered to the Government, and the various land boards have been asked by the Mihister of Lands (the Hon. G. W. Forbes) to obtain particulars of any areas deemed to be suitable for settlement. As previously indicated by the Minister, however, "legislation will be necessary in order that financial assistance may be given those settlers taking up undeveloped areas. Once this legislation is through Ihc Government will be in a position to go ahead with its land settlement policy.

The Minister stated to-day that the Dominion Land Purchase Board is at present busy inspecting properties which have been offered to the- Government for closer settlement. The members of the board have just completed a visit to the South Island, and they- arc now about to undertake an inspection of properties under offer in .the North Island. The work would take some time, said the Minister, but the board was making good progress.