THE HILL RUNS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14039, 23 October 1909, Page 8

THE HILL RUNS.

terasnoni house. -' In tho House oil October 13th. Sir William Steward . asked - tho .Minister for Lands:—(l) Whether )io will introduce a Bill this session to provide thatlessces.'of pastoral runs shall have tho option of'renewing their tenancy at valuation rental- .in respfcet of their hoMiiigs or, in'the event of subdivision, -of any; part thereof; and" (2) failing the •introduction of a "Government Bill to effect this, .wjll'facilities bo given a private; member to- ileal with this important matter?^

To these questions, the Minister replied as-follows:—lu view of the increasing'demand for pastoral country, arid' of, the fact that when leases of such country terminate there is a widespread 7 demand that. the. lauds should Iks ' carefully inspected to insure that they may be "subdivided and reofTercd for occupation in as small holdings as is! advisable, it would bo contrary to 'public opinion and sentiment that the proposal to give existing tenants a right to new leasejs of their lands in the present large areas should be given effect .to. - The Government are therefore una bic to ice their way to introti >e.e legislation for this object or to ofTcr facilities to.private members to do so. ' -Sir ,"William states that there is a iiiisapprehensiot»-;«n this reply. What was' asked is that if tho run is re-let as a. whole then that tho existing lcssco should have a right of renewal at revaluation rental, or, if the run is sohdivded, tliat tholcssee should have tho the rijjht of renewal in respect of any one'of tiie subdivisions.