AUCKLAND, March 4.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 30

AUCKLAND, March 4.

At the* 1 * Land Board meeting Mr jU'Kenzie (Crown L^nds Commissioner) stated that whilst he was in the north settlers and - others had complained about sections being taken up, in many instances not for the purpose of settlement, but to acquire timber and then to sell for milling. Land ought not to be parted with in this "■way. He would not grudge a bona fide Settler mating what h© could out of his bargain,, provided he carried out residential and improvement conditions, though, of course, at 'the same time the State should derive benefit. The Crown lands ranger 'had reported very strongly on several E_ec- - fcioDS- specially uc-der consideration, stating that, as far as he coul<t ascertain, they were only held for milling- purposes, and were not milled, by those taking them up, having apparently been acquired by others without & question coming before the Land Board, -either with regard to sub-lease or r ir-imsfer. This was a practice that ."should be put dowi, and in the 'interests of genuine settlement all such - sections shouid_be forfeited. The principal reason why he brought this before the board was- to prevent lirnjper being removed from off these sections when the conditions were not complied with. If these were cases, ■where- the- smallest attempt to effect the improvements was being made they would -have, received every consideration, but in this instance there was no attempt at all. The land was- never offered with thi3 intention, amd, as he viewed the 1-gav, the board must first consider whether the settler was bona fide, and once they were satisfied that he was genuine, then they had ample discretionary pow-er to stretch the law in. his favour. But if he were proved to be a Block to settlement, then these same discretionary powers should be brought to bear in quite another direction, and they fthould not hesitate to forfeit the land, and

allow those who wanted it legirhvalp'y to have a chance-. Mr M'Ken/.io thrn mw-"rl that four sections should X- forfeited at once, and in fi\« other ia=r- Ihe -elector were asked to show cause why they should not be forfeited at the ne\t me. ting of the boarcf.