LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12406, 26 August 1918, Page 8

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

REGULATIONS MADE.

Regulations under the Discharged Soldiers’ 'Settlement Act are gazetted.

They provide that if two or more applications are received in respect of one allotment of land, the Land Board shall determine which of tho applicants, in its opinion, is most suitable to occupy the land, or in most need of the laud, and shall dispose of the land so as to comply with tho direction of the Act that, the board shall as far as practicable assist applicants in acquiring suitable allotments. If the board is unable to determine the question a ballot will be taken. The price is to ho fixed by the board, and is to be such, as . the board considers reasonable, although it may bo loss than the price paid for the land. j COMPULSORY RESIDENCE.

In the case of land purchased on deferred payments, the purchaser shall, on tho approval of his application, pay a deposit equal to 5 per cent of tho price of the land, or such lesser amount as the Minister may determine, and tho balance shall be paid by equal annual instalments extending over such period as the hoard determines, with interest (5 per cent) half-yearly on the unpaid balance. Upon payment in full a certificate of title for the land will be issuedResidence on any laud held under license to occupy shall bo compulsory. In the case of bush or swamp laud it shall commence within four years, and in the case of open or partly open land within ono year from the elate of tho license, and shall thereafter bo continuous during the whole of the remainder of tho term. It is provided, however, that the hoard may in its discretion dispense with the above requirements. No land acquired for cash or on deferred payment, shall, except with tho consent of the Laud Board and the approval of the Minister of Lands, be capable of being transferred until the ex-; piry of ten years after the date of tho sale. With regard to leased land, the term will be fixed by the board, but shall not be longer than thirty-three years in the case of hind acquired under the Laud for Settlements Act, or sixty-six years in the case of other lauds, with a perpetual right of renewal. The value of improvements to be. effected shall he fixed by the Land Board, and, subject to Dio discretion of the hoard, residence shall he compulsory. Tho fee simple of the land may bo acquired at any time during the continuance of the lease. ADVANCESUnder the heading “ financial,” it- is provided • that the amount of advance that may he made to any one person on land acquired under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act shall not. exceed £SOO, hut the Minister may, if in his opinion special circumstances render such amount inadequate, authorise an additional advance not exceeding £250. In no case shall the amount advanced for building exceed £250. The amount of advance to any person for the purchase of a dwelling and appurtenances on other than rural land shall not exceed the sum of £IOOO, and for any other purpose shall nob exceed £2500. Tho rate of interest will be 5 per cent, and the amount will bo repayable by half-yearly instalments extending over a period of thirty-six and a half years, SOLDIERS’ DWELLINGS. Laud set apart for the purpose of providing soldiers’ dwellings shall be divided into s\ich allotments as the Minister may direct, and the Minister may cause to be erected thereon buildings suitable for soldiers’ residences, or may convert any buildings thereon into soldiers’ residences- The capital value of any dwelling so disposed, of shall not exceed £IOOO. The Land Board, with tho consent of the Minister, may dispose of any such allotment to a discharged soldier under an agreement to purchase. The amount of the purchase money will be paid by monthly instalments extending over a period of twon-ty-fivo and a half years at the rate of 11s 8d per month for every £IOO included in the. balance of capital value. Tiie instalments will be payable halfyearly.