THE LAND COMMISSION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIII, Issue 13783, 23 June 1905, Page 3

THE LAND COMMISSION.

[Per Press Association.] NELSON, June 22. ’ The Land Commission, southern section, took evidence last evening, and this forenoon is leaving for Picton by the midday steamer. Evidence was given by a Riwaka settler, Mr Hattie, regarding difficulties with blackberry land, the unjust incidence of the Noxious Weeds Act, and the need of legislation to compel various local trusts, such as College Governors and the Whakamva Orphanage, to make allowances for improvements; also advocating tho resumption of trust lands by tho State. Ho favoured tho freehold tenure, and considered the loasc-in-perpetuity objectionable to tenants and bad for tho State. Of second-class mountain land tho right to take up even fifteen hundred acres was none too much. He favoured elective Land Boards. William Fellow, representing tho Workers’ Union, favoured the leaso-in-perpetuity, with revaluation. ' Evidence was also given by Mr Murray, Chief Draughtsman of the Land Office, and Mr Charles Lewis, surveyor. Mr W. Redgrave, clerk to the Land Board, also gave evidence of tho working of tho Act in tho district, regarding . it as satisfactory, and making the settlers content. Mr Turner, provincial president of tlio Farmers’ Union, while favouring the freehold, denied that the. Union was instrumental in fomenting an agitation among the Crown tenants. Evidence was also given by Mr O. Y. Fell, solicitor, regarding tho Nelson College endowments and the system of leasing, stating that the rents had been kept very low to enable the tenants to make improvements. Mr Magiunity, chairman of the Nelson School Commissioners, said that the tenants were allowed a valuation on their improvements on renewals of tho-leases, and there bad been no trouble. Labour witnesses spoke on tho need for workmen’s blocks of two or three acres adjacent to cities. Other witnesses gave unimportant or supplementary evidence. The Crown Ranger testified that there had been no trouble with the Crown tenants in this district, and all were fairly prosperous. Tho Commission loft at noon for Picton, and will take evidence at Seddon and Blenheim. BLENHEIM, June 22. Tho Land Commission arrived from Nelson this evening, and will go to Seddon by rail early to-morrow morning and visit the Crown settlements, including Flaxbourne, where evidence will be heard. Witnesses will be examined in the afternoon, and at Blenheim on Saturday.