LAND LAWS BILL.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 21, 16 October 1930, Page 12

LAND LAWS BILL.

• A wide variety of amendments is contained in the 20 clauses of the Land XrMWS Amendment JBill.,whieh was read a nrt?t time in the House of Representatives last week. It was introduced by. Goveriior-GeneraPs message and referred,: to the Lands Committee:. *

■;; ■'■ • . " The Bill provides .that areas of injferior down land?,, may be disposed v<6£ withoxit competition; or by. public/auction *Jp icotppaiiies engaged in. afforestation or ma cultiviation of fffat or in aay^ofhe^ industries. This provision is to apply to t lands not* suitable for close settlement. Tre land is to be disposed of by lease, the term to be 21 years with a perpetual right of renewal. Not in ore. than aQjOOO acf^s shall tie granted to one applicant. Power is also given to confer on the lessee the right to acquire the freehold at such price and on such terms and conditidha iiS; may be prescribed.

Tie Hut i Valley Lands S^ttlenj^nt. Ac: count, established in 1925, is also abolished and the funds transferred to the Lands for Settlement Account. Special provisions are made as to the application of moneys received under the Hutt Valley Lands Settlement Act.

There is a provision that nothing in. •the Discharged Soldiers;' Settlement Ae{ ] 915/ imposing restrictions,on the transfer of lands disposed of by sale* or leas«? under that Act- shall be x construed to limit the authority conferted on the Governor-Oeneral :to make regulation 3 prescribing inter alia conditions aa - to the transfer of lands disposed of by. way 'of lease under that Act, and all regula-' tions on the transfer of lands leased under -the. Act are declared to have been yalidlv made. v

Thfe abolition of the deteriorated lands account, established by the Act of 1925, -is provided iov Moneys to the credit of this account are to~^Be transferred to the lands for settlement account.

The Lands for Settlement Act provided that any settlement land .might be disposed of bj- way of renewable - lease.

the term to be 33 years with a perpetual right of renewal. A .clause in the Bill provides that the term may be" 33 years *'ot such shorter term as the Land Boad thinks fit."