URBAN LAND WITHDRAWN FROM SALE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 29 November 1945, Page 8

URBAN LAND WITHDRAWN FROM SALE

DISPOSAL TO SERVICEMfcN ONLY WITHIN 12 MONTHS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington* Nov. 28. It was hoped that the clause would some of the suspicion of some circumvention of the legislation, stated the Minister of Lands (Mr Skinner) in the House of Representatives referring to a provision in the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Amendment Bill that urban land withdrawn from sale can be sold only to servicemen or a serviceman’s widow within a period of twelve months. The Minister said that it had come to his notice that in many cases applications for transfer were made and never completed. In a particular case in perhaps a month’s time there would be another application for transfer and the same property would go through to some other purchaser at the same basic price. It was felt there was something wrong with that. Mr J.. T. Watts (National, Riccarton) inquired what the position would be if an ex-serviceman did not want a property. The Minister replied that in such a casj the Land Sales Committee would use its discretion. Mr Watts retorted that the clause would prevent the property being put up for sale again within 12 months. The Minister said that the section of the Bill was sound. If it could be shown that a purchaser no longer wanted a property he imagined the deal could go through to a new purchaser. Mr W. Sullivan (National. Bay of Plenty) said the clause would have the effect of owners refusing altogether to place their properties on the market. The people were weary of the control, regulations, and interference that were being placed on all transactions throughout the country.