USE OF LANDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 9

USE OF LANDS

SOLDIERS' HOSPITAL ROTORUA DOMAIN SITE WAR PERIOD AND TEN YEARS (S.K.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Tlse reservation over education endowment lands in the North Auckland land district, comprising the Point M usick Aoradio Station site is cancelled by a clause in Ibe Heserves and other Lands Disposal Bill introduced in the House to-day. I lie land is set apart for defence purposes. There are two areas of 119 acres and two acres respectively, both in the Pakuranga parish. Another clause cancels the reservation as an endowment for secondary education over a small area in the Titirangi survey district at Blockhouse Bay and adds the land to the Avondale Domain. The expenditure by trustees of the will of the late Sir John Logan (,'ampbell of £'s()2 for lighting the obelisk on One Tree Hill is validated. The trustees are authorised to spend another £2OOO on. the construction and tar-sealing of a roadway and footpath to connect the monument with the road through the One Tree Hill Domain. Special provisions concerning a site for a convalescent hospital for soldiers at Hotorua are contained ill another clause. The Hotorua Borough Council js empowered to lease to the Crown part of the Hotorua Domain and part of certain stopped streets at a peppercorn rental. Provision is included for the land to revert to its existing status when no longer required for hospital purposes and the council has the right to jiurcha.se at valuation the hospital buildings. The period of use of the land for a hospital site is fixed at 10 years more than the duration of the war. An accompanying explanation says that the erection of the hospital will not interfere with public rights of access along the lake as a considerable strip has been left, between the northern boundary of Hie site and the lake. The bill was read a first time and referred to the Lands Committee. 3000 CROWN LEASES EXTENSION OF TERMS VALUATION DIFFICULTY (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday The term of certain leases and licences administered by land boards is extended for five years by a clause iu the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill which was introduced in the House today. It is explained that from 1941 to 1946 some 3000 Crown leases, with an aggregate annual rental of over £149.000, are due to expire and under present unprecedented conditions it is becoming increasingly difficult for valuers and others to reach a sound basis to fix rentals for renewal of leases for terms extending over the next 20 to 30 years. The clause is designed to extend for five years all such leases due to expire before 19 f6, where they have a right of renewal, whether absolute or contingent. Provision is made for lessees to surrender leases. Another clause in the bill suspends part of the Land Act, 1924, relating to revaluations of Crown and settlement land until the end of 1943 and it is stated that a further suspension may then become necessary. Should rentals be found to be too high the position will be met by remissions of rent. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The second reading debate on the Standards Bill was disposed of by the Legislative Council to-day. Support for the principles of standardisation was expressed by all of the speakers. The Leader of the Council, the Hon. D. Wilson, said standardisation would eliminate waste in time, money and material, would stabilise quality and prices, and would increase the standard of livinKThe Hon. V. A. Ward (Wellington) asked if standards would help to eliminate the advertising and sale of useless patent medicines. Mr. Wilson in reply said they could not prove that patent medicines would cure, but could see that the ingredients were up to standard. The whole question of patent medicines was under consideration. The bill was read a second time, and the Auckland Centennial Memorial Park Dill was read a first time.