LAND DIVISION

Southland Times, Issue 19311, 1 August 1924, Page 5

LAND DIVISION

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER.. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR PUBLIC | RESERVES. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 31. The enforcement of the provision in the Land Act for the taking of 5 per cent, of areas under sub-division for public reserves was the subject of a deputation to the Minister of Lands (Hon A. D. McLeod) to-day. The deputation consisted chiefly of representatives of public bodies in Christchurch.

Mr Bridge, representing the Dominion Institute of Surveyors, said the land in question was both town and country land and the provision for a 5 per cent, contribution to reserves was felt to press very hard. The rule at present was that no area under four acres should be asked to furnish a reserve. Reserves should be of some real public utility, and the Institute had no objection to reserves being taken from large areas on sub-division. The area reserved should be of real benefit to the. community. The speaker quoted instances of hardship on property owners on proposed sub-division, and asked that a more reasonable interpretation should be given.

Mr Beswick, representing the Canterbury Law Society, Mr Witty. M.P., Mr McCombs, M.P., Mr Armstrong, M.P., and Mr Sullivan, M.P., also spoke. The Minister in reply, said that no doubt sub-division of land in country districts was hampered by adherence to the strict letter of the law. Anything that hampered reasonable sub-division was not good for the community. He would like to say that many public bodies were protesting against any interference with the law but probably this was in ignorance of the suggestion of a 5 per cent, monetary contribtuion in lieu of the land. If they could get a better system whereby subdivision would be encouraged he waa quite sure some of the pastoral land now in large areas would come into subdivision more quickly and that was desirable. If anything were done during the present session it should be in the general Town Planning Bill.