The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1895. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS ACT.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 284, 5 June 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1895. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS ACT.

. o It would appear that this Act which was intended by the framers to be a boon to small farmers and struggling settlers, was born under an unlucky star. At first the delays in giving replies to applicants and the wide differ euce of opinion which existed between the Board and their valuator appointees as to the character of the securi ties offered, caused wide spread dissatisfaction, especially as there was a grave suspicion abroad that want of money in the Treasury was the real cause, and the obstacles raised were merely pretences to gain time. JXow the want of money cannot be pleaded as an excuse, we are told by the Palmeriton Standard that an awkward hitch has arisen in connection with loans on laud held under the tenure known as " occupation with right of purchase." The member for Palmerston was successful in including this system lasl session in the securities specified in the Act, but it now turns out that the Registrar of Deeds refuses to register such mortgages. Reference to the Land Act of 1892 shows that under section 86 it is mandatory for the Department to register leases under the Land Transfer Act, and there is some doubt whether " lease " includes " license." Although that was ihe case under the Land Act of 1885, where the interpretation clause specified that it did so, this very interpretation was omitted from the Land Act of 1892. Mr Pirani laid the matter before the Hoc Mr Cadtnan on Friday last with tho view of getting the opinion of the Crown Law Officers whether an amendment of the Advances to Settlers' Act is necessary to enable its intentious to be car ried into effect. We hope that Mr Pirani will succeed in his object, for it is a pity that so really useful an Act should be " moiled and muddled " until people lose all faith in its fitness for the purpose originally intended.