WHAT IS RESIDENCE ?

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 137, 6 August 1881, Page 2

WHAT IS RESIDENCE ?

We are informed that it is not the intention of the Commissioner of Crown Lands to insist very rigidly upon the residential conditions on deferred-payment sections on the Plains within the six months specified and intended. Owing to the non-issue of licenses to occupy until February or March last, a reasonable, or, at any rate, a colorable excuse, is afforded to the laggards. Now that the latter know that they have been rej>orted as absentees, and also that defaulters are liable to forfeit their sections, many of them will doubtless screw up their courage and reside upon their land. Owing to efforts which have been made by some to defeat the object of the Act, and obtain deferred payment land as a speculation, it is now difficult to grant transfers even to those who bought and occupied their land, honestly intending to continue to live upon it, but who have since been offered strong inducements to sell out, and desire to accept the offer. We have been repeatedly requested to define residence, as required by the Act, but could not undertake to do so. Though we recognise that no absolutely hard and fast rule can be laid down, we believe that if the Commissioner would state where he thought the line should, as a rule, be drawn, some future difficulty would be avoided. There are a few settlers who believe that they have fully complied with the spirit of the Act, but are doubtful whether the Commissioner would decide for or against them.