NEW LAND LEGISLATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 62, 27 October 1911, Page 5

NEW LAND LEGISLATION.

FAMILY SETTLEMENTS BILL. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, October 27. In the ETouso of Representatives last night the Family Settlements Bill was introduced by Governor’s message, and read a first time. Sir Joseph Ward explained that the Bdl provided for a payment system as between land owners t and settlers direct, when purcliascrs under tJie deiorred payment system had paid the wnole of the purchase money. If lire total of payment exceeds the price of the land acquired the amount of the excess is to be paid by the Government to tiie owner with interest at -I per cent, for ten years If the total payments are less than the price., there is to be paid to the owner the amount of the deficiency, with interest In. this case the country does not lose the deficiency, because the country pays only from the proceeds received from the settlers for ten years; also the cost of reading and bridges is to lie distributed and settled under the deferred payment system as between owner and settler. The land is to be disposed of by tender or public auction. There is to bo no ballot. Provision is made that whore a railway is under construction a map is to he prepared, showing the position and all Crown land and private land which the railway will connect. “Private land” means native or European land. If the price of the land cannot bo arranged between the Government and owners, the land will be compulsorily taken. Provision is also made for the compulsory acquisition of native freehold land, leaving what is necessary in the opinion of the Maori Land Boards for the maintenance of the natives. Provision is made for family settlements; also individual settlements and ordinary settlements; family settlements to be composed of not less than ten or more than twenty families; land to lie as near as possible to a road or railway. A family includes the father and mother and children under 16; settlement area not to exceed 4UO acres, and no family to hold more than one area. No preference is to bo given to applicants who have more capital than'others. Land will bo taken up on the optional system, except national endowment lands, when the tenure will be renewable lease. Provision is also made for the employment cl settlers on railway or road works until the land is brought into cultivation. Individual settlement lands are to be near a railway or road, settlers to be single men cr women, widows or widowers, or married couples without children; allotments not to exceed 390 acres; the area of land acquired under this scheme not to exceed 750,000 acres in one year, and not more than £1,000,000 to he spent in any one year.

Sir Joseph Ward intimated that ho did not intend to put tho Hill through tin's _ session, it being introduced for consideration during tho recess. Somot!;iug additional to tiie present legislation was needed to promote more rapid land settlement. He hoped to evolve some definite method under which Maoris would bo able to settle their lands with the help of tho State’s lending departments. Mr Massey approved of the new proposals. He would endeavour to assist the Minister in the passage of the Hill.. Sir nines Carroll said the Maori had to be assisted in his agricultural pursuits, momentarily and instructively.