NEW LAND LAWS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11324, 30 September 1930, Page 5

NEW LAND LAWS

PROPOSED CONCESSION TO PRIVATE COMPANIES.

INFERIOR AREAS TO BE DISPOSED OF WITHOUT COMPETITION.

PROPOSED PRODUCTION OF

FLAX FOR, LINEN

(Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. The Land Laws, Amendment Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day by' GoVernorGeneral’s message ■ and read a first tinib. Mr, Ransom said the Bill provided that areas of inferior Crown Lands might he disposed of without competition or by public auction to companies engaged in afforestation or cultivation of flax or other industries. It also made provision as to the computation of price on the acquisition of fee simple of lands that had been revalued under statutory authority.

Air. Eraser »L.) said he thought it time, the Government should consider restricting rather than increasing the land available' for afforestation. Tie declared land had been taken in the past when it ought to have been used for sheep or cattle farming. This view was supported by Messrs Parry (L.) and Langs tone (L.). Mr. Clinkard (L.) said hq thought it would be wise for the Government to- devisq means of reviewing estates before they went into trees. Tree-planting ought, not to be discouraged/ but should be subject to careful supervision. Air. Ransom stated the clause to which reference had been made did include afforestation among other industries, but it did not concern afforestation mainly. He said that, during his visit to this country, Lord Craigavon bad remarked that there wenTlarge tracts of land in New Zealand, that would .be suitable for tlie production of linen, and lie was surprised that no attempt had been made to produce flax of much greater value. The Bill would enable private companies to take upi land to produce flax of suitable quality for the manufacture of linen. It had been found that hitherto the Lands Department had no power to grant sufficient land lor tho purpose in any one block. . Air. Ransoni, continuing, said at the present time the primary products of this j Dominion were limited to comparatively few industries, consequently the drop in values of these products was more severely felt than would be the case if there were a wider range of industries. _ Another industry which it was hoped would be possible to develop more fullv under the- provisions of the clause, be continued, was tung oil planting. If larger tracts ol land wore available there would be giea - er facilities' for development m this d «nsom added that afforestation' had been included because there were still some areas that were not suitable for any other form ot cultivation.. ’