CROWN LANDS

Southland Times, Issue 19346, 11 September 1924, Page 7

CROWN LANDS

CONSOLIDATING MEASURE INTRODUCED BY GOVERNMENT “CHANGES IN LANGUAGE BUT NOT IN X POLICY” (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 10. The secontl reading of the Land Bill was moved in the House of Representatives tonight by the Minister of Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod. REMOVING ANOMALIES. The Bill, said Mr McLeod, was a consolidating measure relating to Crown Lands alone. The special provisions of amending Acts relative to settlement lands were not included, and were excepted from the schedule of repealed enactments. The Consolidating of Land fcr Settlement Acts Bill was in course of preparation. The majority of the proposed alterations were for the purpose of removing anomalies, or for supplying administrative machinery. The most important cf the alterations were the result of the deliberations of a conference of responsible heads of Departments, and there were a few additional alterations made by members of the Lands Committee. He then proceeded to explain in detail the alterations made, which in most cases were changes in language rather than in policy. “NO CATCHES IN THE BILL.” Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) explained the views of the Lands Committee on the alterations made, most of which he approved. He thought that the time had oome when the rent free period to these occupying bush and swamp lands might be extended to ten years. He also stressed the necessity of the Minister hardening up residential conditions in connection with Crown Lands, arguing that unless this was dene, settlements would not remain, as there was always a tendency for the people to drift towards a town. Further, there was always greater difficulty in getting people to go into the backblocks if there were no neighbours near them. He contended that the holders of pastoral leases should receive the same rebate for prompt payment of rent as was given to other Crown tenants, especially considering the difficulties under which they laboured. He did not believe that there were any catches in the Bill, but it was an honest presentation of the policy of the Department, so far as plain language could state that policy. Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) congratulated the Minister upon effecting the consolidation of the Land Law, which with its amendments would provide better means of settling the lighter lands of the Dominion. QUESTION OF FIRES. Mr K. S. Williams (Bay of Plenty) urged the broadening of clause 40 dealing with fires on Crown lands. He argued that settlers bordering on Crown lands often must light fires, and if these fires damaged Crown property, in assessing the damage, the Magistrate should determine whether the fire, when lighted, was necessary, or whether it was an act cf carelessness and assess the damages accordingly. RIGHT TO FREEHOLD URGED. Mr F. F. Hockley (Rotorua) urged the Minister to deal with the tenure of National ! Endowment land, once and for all, by, granting the occupants right to acquire the I freehold. He also urged the Minister to give careful study to the problem of settling pumice lands, which might yet become , his most lasting monument. Mr H. E. Holland thought that the amendments made in the Bill had improved it. The Labour Party would, of course, oppose any clauses giving the right to acquire the freehold of National Endowment lands. He regretted that there was no better provision fcr dealing with land aggregation, which was undoubtedly going on in the Dominion.

DECLARATION FOR THE FREEHOLD. The Minister, in reply, said that there was no chance of a Bill consolidating the Lands for Settlement Acts being brought down this session with the general principle of granting further privileges to the backblock settlers in the form of rent free lands, etc., but he warned the House that there was always the danger that unless land was carefully classified, settlers who were not entitled to these privileges would be claiming them. This was not, perhaps, the 81l in which to open up the general question of tenures, but he was in favour of giving the Freehold to all those who went out and cultivated the land, and who wished to acquire the Freehold. He hoped yet to be able to give holders of the National Endowment Land, the Freehold. He was as much against aggregation as anyone, but he recognised the great difficulty of defining what was aggregation. Compulsory residence was, he thought, the only remedy, but he proposed to go into the whole question before Parliament met again. Several matters had been suggested to him as suitable for introduction into this Bill and he propose to bring them down at a later stage when he would have them referred to the Lands Committee. The Minister then moved the second reading of the Bill, which was agreed to, and the House rose at 11.25 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Thursday.