SETTLING THE LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 108, 27 October 1911, Page 5

SETTLING THE LAND.

[ GOVERNMENT'S FORWARD MOVE. FAMILY SETTLEMENTS. BILL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington Last Night. In the House 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 Bill provided for a payment system as between land owners and settlers direct, when purchasers under the deferred payment system had paid the whole of the purchase money. If the total of payment exceeds the price of the land acquired the amount of the excess is to be paid by the Government to the owner with interest at 4 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 roading and bridges is to be 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 be no ballot. Provision is made that where a railway is under construction a map is to be prepared, showing the position and it"..; ' air Crown land and private laud ' ~ia the railway will connect. "Private land" means native or European land. If the price of the land cannot be arranged between the Government and owners, the land will be compulsorily taken. Provision is also ra.ads 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 be as near as possible to a road or railway/ A family includes the father and mother and children under Hi; settlement area not to exceed 400 acres, and no family to hold more than one area. No preference is to be given to applicants who have more capital than others. Land will be taken up on the optional system, ewr.nt national endowment lands, when

tenure will be renewable lease. ProVision is also made for the employment of 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 or women, widows or widowers, or married couples without children; allotments not to exceed 300 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 be spent in any one year. Sir Joseph Ward intimated that hj» did not intend to put the Bill through this session, it being introduced for consideration during the recess.' Something additional to the present legislation was needed to promote more rapid land settlement. He hoped to evolve some definite method under which Maoris would be able to settle their lands with the help of the State's lending departments. Mr. Massey approved of the new proposals. He would endeavor to assist the Minister in the passage of the Bill.

Sir James Carroll said the Maori had to be assisted in his agricultural pursuits, monetarily and instructively.