FREEHOLD v. LEASE

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5582, 10 September 1920, Page 5

FREEHOLD v. LEASE

TENANTS’ PETITION

CONVERSION OF NATIONAL ENDOWMENTS AVANTED.

REFERRED TO GOVERNMENT FOR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION.

WELLINGTON, Sept. 9.

The freehold versus leasehold issue was raised in the House of Repre- ! iseiitatives to-day on the- presentation of a report of tlie Lands Committee. Certain tenants of national endowment land had petitioned the House for the right to acquire the freehold of their sections, and the chairman of the committee (Mr. E. Newman) reported that as the petition involved a question. of policy ,-t should be dealt with by the Government. He added that the committee was of opinion that, provided the proceeds of the sale of tho land were invested in Government securities and the revenue reserved for the purpose to which the rentals were now applied, tlie committee considered that the legislation desired by the petitioners would he in the interests of the Dominion and tho petition therefore should bo referred to the Government for favorable consideration. Mr. G. AVitty (Riccarton) stated that only four members of the committee had been present when the vote was taken, and the recommendation had been approved by three votes to one. He considered that a larger attendance should have been secured before so important a recommendation was made. He objected entirely to national endowments being turned into private freehold. If tliis course was to be followed in dealing with the public estate, why should not tenants of educational reserves, church endowments, and even privately-owned lands have the right to the freehold. Future generations had an interest in the national endowments. The tenants had security of tenure and good conditions and they were seeking the freehold merely in order to traffic with tho lands. Air. Newman indicated that moio than four members of the committee had been present during the discussion of the Bill. Public mterest would be fully protected if the money realised by the sale oi the land vv ere invested since the revenue so secured would actually be greater than the rentals now being received I lie petitioners were returned soldiers who had found that they could not finance their operations owing to tlie nature of their tenure. Iheir position would be greatly improved ii they had the freehold. Mr Newman mentioned that the area oi the national endowments was now within 65 600 acres of the statutory limit ot 9,600,000. , „ Leasehold members called for a division on the motion that the report should bo referred to the Government for favorable consideration The motion was adopted by 40 votes to 20, the division list being as follows„ , , T o Ayes (36): Bolland Coates, J. ©• Dickson. Glenn. Guthrie. A. Hamilton, J. R- Hamilton, Harris, Hauken, Honare. Hemes, Hudson Hunter, Jones, Leo, Lvsnai. AlcCallum, AlcNicol, Malcolm, Massey Masters, E. Newman, Nosworthy, 1 any 1 eland. Pomare, Potter, I owdrell.R, H. Rhodes. T, AV. Rhodes. Reed, Sykes, Young, Hockley, Alander. Noes (20): At more. lorbes Iraser, Holland, Horn, Howard. Isitt, Jennings, Kellett, A. K. Newman Savage, Sidey, S. G. Smith Statham, Stewart, Sullivan, Aeitcffi, AA right, AlcCombs, AVitty .—Special.