GOVERNMENT LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 214, 3 September 1908, Page 2

GOVERNMENT LAND.

Oil' KENT ASKJJD FOR. A DIFFICULT POSITION. I By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Nigiit. Ifle Minister of Lands (Hon. k, McAab) this afternoon received a deputation representing twenty-live settlers who have taken up laud in the BetaHike, Kaitieke, Ivirikau, and part of the Xorlh N'aimarino 'blocks on the upper reaches of the Wanganui river. I'hv deputation was accompanied by Messrs Kemington, Koss, Jennings, Major, llornsby, and Hogan, M.'sP. The deputation asked for title remission of one year's rent payable by tfleni in respect to their leases. They pointed out that owing to tho want of access to their sections they find it very difficult to let contracts for bushfelling lor the present season, and that they would

get little or no return from their land until about August or September, 11)10. Air. McNab said in regard to the remission of rent that this was a matter that would have to be dealt with bj Die Laud Board, to whom he would fomvard the deputation's petition, lie would ask the Hoard to look into the matter and make a recommendation, It would be a fallacy on his part to disguise the aspect ot the present case where land was disposed of and held,, for fourteen months and tfie holders asked for tile remission of a year's rem and a reduction of S3 per cent on the capital value. It was a serious position. If what had liappeued in this case was going to happen all over tliW Dominion, chaos woum result, for set-. Hers only had to come after twelve, months' occupation and make an application for remission. It migiht result in men going in for land who were not otherwise able to farm it. I'hat was a position Uiey had to guard against, remembering that what was done to-day was taken as a precedent. The law would not allow theni to come underlie Bush and Swamp Lands Act. xney had found that the Act was being utilised in a way far from the intention of the original promoter, and wholesale dummyism and speculation in the past I in its very worst form had taken place. It was to get over the difficulties they 1 had experienced that a clause was put in last year's Land Bill making provision for paying the rent for a number, of years. He did not know whether'' there was power to convert from occupation with right of purchase to occupancy under another form, but he

would send on the deputation's petition to the Land Board, and when their recommendation came, he would see if there were any conversion scheme under which the present difficulties could be met in a way in which they could meet similar difficulties from all over New Zealand without giving preference to anyone.