NEW SOUTH WALES LAND COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13192, 1 June 1906, Page 5

NEW SOUTH WALES LAND COMMISSION.

THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MP/ CRICK. SUGGESTED ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. (Received May 31, 6.35 p.m.) ; n Sydxet, May 31. The report of the Lands Commission, was issued to-day. It finds that of the sums received by Mr. Peter Close, as land agent in respect of. matters then being dealt with by the Minister for Lands (Mr. Crick), the latter accepted one-half, but that no officer of the Department had received any money from Mr. Close; that it is desirable to place the administration of the Lands Department in the hands of a Board of Commissioners, in order to free it from political influence, and that land igcr.ls should be registered, and placed .uider the control of the Land Appeal Court.. Other recommendations include the fol-lowing:That-in order to supply the demand for agricultural laud, all unnecessary reserves should be cancelled, .tie purchases of private lands should as far as practicable be effected under the Closer Settlement Act, and that every encouragement should be given to the subdivision and sale of private estates by the owners. It advises the making of experiments with bore water to ascertain the best method of applying it to agriculture, and the consideration of irrigation, and the conserving of water which now runs to waste, and the laying of light railways as means of encouraging and as aids to the closer settlement policy. (Received May 31, 11.56 p.m.) ... Syijkky, May 51. The Land Commission's report exonerates' the Government in connection with the allegations regarding the purchase of tho Myall Creek property. The Commissioners consider the State acquired the estate at a, reasonable price, and '.at the Government was not affected by the commission paid by the vendors to agents. Theie was also nothing in the evidence to implicate Mr, Carruthers in any of the land transactions.