INFERIOR CROWN LANDS

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3969, 7 October 1930, Page 7

INFERIOR CROWN LANDS

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW INDUSTRIES

WELLINGTON. September 29 Provision for areas oi‘ iuier.or ' io\vn hinds to be disposed of, either by public auction or without competition, to companies engaged in afforestation, i.lie cultivation of flax, or other industries, is contained in the Land Laws Amend ment liiii, which was read a first time in the House to-day, The measure proposes to grant leases for twenty-one years, with perpetual right of renewal for a further similar term, and to limit individual holdings to 50,000 acres When the message introducing the Bill was received in committee, members expressed apprehension that the proposal might open the door to the further absorption for afforestation purposes of land more suitable for dairy production and sheep raising. Th e Acting Prime Minister (Mr Hansom) replied that the main object ol the clause did not concern afforestation. During the visit to New Zealand of \ is* count Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, the attention of the authorities had been drawn to large tracts of land lying idle that would he suitable for the growing of the liax from which Irish linen could he manufactured, and private companies had since made representations to the Govern ment for the taking up of that land to enable the industry to he established. Under the existing law the department had no power to deal with the matter, and the clause had been accordingly inserted in the Bill. “ At present,” Mr Hansom added, “ New Zealand’s primary products are limited to a few items, and when the prices of these drop we feel it much more seriously than if the items were spread over a greater number of primary industries.” (Hear, hear.) The Acting Prime Minister said that another industry concerned the growing of the tung oil plant, and this also was covered by the clause, the object being to enable developing companies to take up large tracts of land, i'he Minister said it had been held that there were no lands more suitable for the growing oi tiie tung oil plant than the hilly portions of the gum districts. Afforestation had been included because there were still some Crown lands suitable for no other purpose than tree plant