LAND LAWS MADE PLAIN.

Western Star, 20 April 1920, Page 4

LAND LAWS MADE PLAIN.

AS TO PURCHASING POWERS AND THE HELP GIVEN TO SOLDIERS. [From the Dunedin ‘Evening Star’.] Mr R. T. Sadd, Commissioner of Crown Lands in Otago, has prepared an abstract of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, the Land Laws Amendment Act of last session, and the Laud Laws Amendment Acts relative to the aggregation of lands. We now. present another instalment of the compilation: DISCHARGED SOLDIERS’ SETTLE- ° MENT ACT, 1915. —Definition of “Discharged Soldier.’’— (a) Any person who has been a member of the New Zealand Naval or of any Expeditionary Force. (b) Has served beyond New Zealand in connection with the present war. (o) Has returned to New Zealand, and (d) Has received his discharge from service either before or after his return to l New Zealand. This shall not apply to any person whose discharge from service was due to incapacity resulting from his own default or misconduct. —By the Amendment Act, 1916. References in the principal Act of 1915 to the discharge from service of a member of an Expeditionary Force shall in the case of an officer of any ' such force be deemed) to be references !to the termination of his appointi raeut. The definition of “ discharged' sol- • dier ” in the principal Act of 1914 is | extended to a person who was im- ; mediately prior to the commencement ! of the recent war a bona fide resident of New Zealand, provided; he has served during the recent war with some.' portion of His Majesty’s Naval or Military Forces (other than forces raised in New Zealand), and that his appointment to such forces has been terminated, or that he has received his discharge therefrom. Residence in New Zealand shall not be deemed to be affected by reason of temporary absence if the applicant for, land or advances satisfies the board that he has a fixed intention ! of returning to New Zealand for the purpose of residing there. —By the Repatriation Act, 1918. All persons, who have been passed as medically fit and were in a military camp in New' Zealand at the time tfie armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, are entitled to the benefits conferred by sections 3 and 3 of the D.S.S. Act, 1917. The D.S.S. Amendment Act, 1919, also applies to all discharged members of an Expeditionary Force who, having been classed absolutely a.s medically fit for service beyond the seas, have served as members of that force in a camp of military training in New Zealand and have through no fault of their own. been discharged from that force. Under Section 2 advances may be made up to £2,500 to help the soldier acquire the title to a freehold or Crown leasehold with further assistance in ordinary cases for stock, implements, etc., to the amount of £SOO, and special cases on bush lands to' £1,250. Under Section 3 a freehold may be purchased! by the Cfown up to a reasonable capital value for the settlement of one or two or more discharged soldiers in the discretion of the Land Board and with the approval of the Minister of Lands, and leased to the soldier or soldiers at a rental of 5 per cent, on the capital value; in this case also the settler is entitled to similar advances for stock, implements, etc., as under Section before mentioned. —Under the Amendment Act, 1919. — The benefits conferred by the above Sections 2 and 3 of the Amendment Act, 1917, are extended to all persons who have served beyond New Zealand as members of any Expeditionary Force, and who, having returned to New Zealand, have for some reason not been discharged from that force. Also to the widow of any person who has served beyond the seas as a member of an Expeditionary Force, or of - any person who, being a resident of New Zealand, has served as a member of any other of His Majesty’s Military or Naval Forces. The terra “discharged soldier” shall, unless the context otherwise requires; be deemed to include any member of _ the New Zealand Army Nursing Service who has served beyond the seas with an Expeditionary Force and has been discharged! from service. ’ Also aiiy person who 1 has been retained in New Zealand as an instructor at a camp of military training, conducted for the purposes of an Expeditionary Force. For the purpose of the Repatriation Act of 1918 the widowed mother df a deceased soldier shall be entitled! to the same privileges and benefits as if she were a soldier’s widow within the meaning of the Act. —Special. Settlements for Occupation by Discharged Soldiers —Ordinary Tenures.— "'The Governor may by proclamation set apart any area of Crown land or settlement land for selection by diseharued soldiers under the Land Act, 10087 or the Land for Settlements Act, 1908. If any of this laud is found not suitable for the above purpose the proclamation under which it was sot apart may be revoked over the whole or part of the land so set apart. —Special Tenures. —

The areas of Crown land or settlement land for discharged soldiers so set apart may be acquired by sale or lease on special tenures. Tlio laud so set apart shall be subdivided into suitable allotments determinated by the Land Board and approved by (he Minister of Lands. Applications for such allot men ts shall be addressed to the Land Board on the prescribed forms for disohag.ed soldiers.

All applications under this section shall be dealt with by the Land Board, who shall, as far as practicable, assist applicants to> secure suitable allotments, and may in their direction, irrespective of the land, halving been offered for ballot determine which of the applicants' to must

suitable to occupy the land or most in need of the land.

The - provisions of the Land Act. 1908, or the Laud for Settlements Act, 1908, or of any other Act relating to the administration of Grown or settlement land', shall not apply to lands disposed of under this section except where provision is made by this Act or regulations thereunder. NO' laud leased or sold to ai discharged soldier under this Act shall, except with the consent of the Land Board and the approval of the Minister of Lands, be transferred until the expiry of 10 years from the date of the. commencement df such sale or lease.

The right of any discharged soldier to a pension or the continuance thereof under the War Pensions Act, 1915, shall not be affected on account of any benefit to’ which he may become entitled under this Act. The Amendment Act of 1916 gives power for assistance to be given to any discharged soldier who mtiy be a Crown tenant either by acquisition on his own behalf or by way of transfer. This has been further extended by the Amendment Act of 1919, and made to apply to private and other leases of a good tenure. With regard to the acquisition of the fee simple of an occupation lease with right of purchase under the Land) Act of 1908 or 1882, no advance shall be made except within two years of the due date of the expiry of that license unless a loan hate already been made on the. security of the license and is still undischarged.