THE LAND BILL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2784, 13 September 1910, Page 5

THE LAND BILL.

A NEW DEPARTUEE. COMPULSORY LEASING SCHEME. Probably the best and most readable summary of the Land Bill, introduced into the House on Wednesday, is that presented in a statement made to Gallery reporters by Sir Joseph Ward. It may be stated that the Bill makes these cardinal provisions :

1. All endowment lands remain renewable lease. 2. Lease in perpetuity lands (939 years) have right of freehold, both in the case of Crown lands and of lands for settlement. 3. Renewable leases for land settlement, both existing and future, without the right of the freehold for the former, as in the Bill of last year.

4. In the case of all other Crown lands, the right of the freehold is given, the Crown receiving 25 per cent, between the original value and that at time of sale. 5. Private lands of over ,£40,000 in value to be acquired by agreement or compulsion by the Crown; this applies to Maori lands also, including the compulsory clauses. The Bill extends the existing methods of acquiring and occupying lands.Jso that, without any great outlay on the part of the Crown, a much larger number of settlers may be placed upon holdings of their own, and assist the development of the resources of the Dominion. A landowner who holds £40,000 worth or more of rural or pastoral land has the right to retain any portion of his estate up to a value of £SOOO. The rentals and prices to be paid for all land acquired by the Crown are to be fixed either by mutual agreement or by the Compensation Court. It is proposed to reduce the maximum area that may be held by a Crown tenant or sold by the Crown to any person from 5000 acres of third-class land (or the equivalent proportion of 2000 acres of second-class land, or 640 acres of first-class land) to 2000 acres of second-class land or 400 acres of first-class land.

In place of two diverse methods of acquiring the fee simple, the lessee in perpetuity may do so by only one method, namely, by paying the original \ alue, plus one-fourth of the amount (if say) by which the present value exceeds the original value. He may either (at his option) pay the amount wholly in cash, and the balance spread over half-yearly payments for 33 years. * National Endowments are affected by the Bill in two small matters. Tenants of such are in future to have a vote in the election of the elective member of the Land Board of the district. ALLOTMENTS OF SETTLEMENT. An applicant for settlement land is not required to deposit any rent or fees, unless declared successful at the ballot, or if there is no other applicant for his allotment.

The age of applicants is raised from 17 to 21 years. O.R.P. lessees now have the right to surrender their licenses, if they so desire, as well as other lessees.

The present veto of the Minister upon transfer is abolished; but Land Boards are required to satisfy themselves that no undue aggregation of holdings takes place.