RETURNED MEN

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 1119, 18 April 1945, Page 3

RETURNED MEN

MAY OBTAIN FREEHOLD LAND EXPLANATION BY MR BRYANT Attention has been drawn by Mr D. V. Bryant to a statement made by Mr A. Topham, charrman of the Morrinsville Rehabilitation Committee, in regard to the tenure of land for servicemen, wherein it was assumed that when a farm is owned or acquired by the Government and afterward settled by servicemen the only tenure available is a 33-years' lease. It was pointed out bfy Mi 1 Bryant that besides a 33-years' lease the Government has made available to all servicemen taking up Government land a restricted freehold as given by the Waikato Land Settlement Society. The only restriction on this title was that the owner must obtain the consent of the authorities befoi-e he or she could transfer or mortgage such land.

While Mr Bryant would not deny the right of servicemen to have a 33-years' lease should they so desire, he did appreciate the fact that they may now have, by law, tho restricted freehold. UnYler this tenure a serviceman paid interest and sinking fund and was thus able to look forward to tho time when he would have complete independence without interest or rent to pay, and with something tangible to pass on to his dependents. Mr Bryant did not wish to convey the impression that he himself favoured the indefinite maintenance of the restrictions imposed by the Act. He said he would like to see the light of alienation granted after a reasonable period. He, of course, appreciated the action of the Government in granting to servicemen the option of accepting this limited form of freehold or a leasehold for a. term of 33 years.