THE LAND BILL

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8008, 13 September 1906, Page 2

THE LAND BILL

A SUMMARY. The Land Act Amendment Rill, which has been brought down by the Government, is intituled, " An Act to amend the law relating to the di-position of Crown lands, and also to limit the aggregation of private estates in lauds. " The first portion of it deals with a nationa' endowment fur educational and other purposes. Section three reserves all the Crown land.s unsold o r unselocted on the coming into operation of the Act, with the exception of lands required under the Land for Settlement Act, for endowments and reserves. For all purposes of administration the national endowment remains as Crown land, but the proceeds are to be paid into the National Endowment Account. Out of that, account the money is to he distributed for educational purposes, for hospitals and charitable aid purposes, and for old age pensions.

Ihe next portion of the Gill deals with the new 6(3 years' lease, which is to he known as "The Renewable Lease." Provision is made that all lands, nxcqpt pastoral lands and small grazing runs, are to he disposed of under the renewabla lease system. Under this system the leases are for 66 years, and the rentals are to be five per cent., if the Imd is under the Land for Settlement Act, and four per cent for all the other lauds. The provision in regard to the renewal of leases generally is that at the end of 66 years anappraisemeut is made of the value of the land and the value of the improvements thereon, and of what would be a fair yeiriy rental. If the tenant is agreeable ha may hav<' the land at the new rental for another period of 66 years, but if he does not agree to take it he is to receive payment for his improvements, together with the repayment of any moneys he may have paid to reduce the cipital. Power is reserved under the Bill to retain from his payments moneys to make up for depreciation or damage to the property.

Trie holders of leases in perpetuity, deferred payment neeuses, or perpetual leaseholders, may convert into renewable leases iu tbe of laud for settlement lands at five por cent., and in all other cases at four per cent. If the bolder of a lease in perpetuity de=ires to purchase the land, he may surrender, and the property will be put up for auction burdened with improvements. The proceeds of the siie are to be paid into the L inds for Settlement Aeoount, into which account also go all moneys arising from the reduction of the capital. In order to keep the revenue intact, the Lands for Settlement Fund will pay interest upon these capital sums to the Consolidated Kevenue, if the land belongs to that account, or to the National Endowment Fund, if the land affected is au endowment. Provision is made for paying off iu sums of not less than £2O up to i) 0 per CJUt. of the capital cost, iu which case the reut will abate proportionately. Clause 10 of tue Uiil gives power to the Governor to draw up regulations under which people in cities, who desire to make homes for themsuives in the country, may uiafce a commencement.

Then come provisions dealing with the limitatioi of private estates in land. Shortly state! they are these : Within 12 mouths the Valuer-General is tu value the properties of £30,000, and over unimproved value. They are then placed ou a list, c died the " excess estate provisional list," and ga/3tted. i'he right of appeal to the Assessment Court is provided to owner a . Attor appeal, and when the list has beeu settled, it is called " the excess estate provisional roll The provision il roll when g.izittedis filial ana conclusive. On the expiration of lu years the Valuer-Li jneral compiles and ga/.jttes a list called " the excess estate reduction list," consisting of those who, of the former list, at tint time still own .£SO,UUU w.jrtu of unimproved value. This list is gazatted and registered against the title of the lands. Whilst such registration coutinues.no transaction can be put through the registry. This list is subject to appeal, and atter appeal 16 fixed and registered, and the former registration becomes cancelled.

The provision for roiuction to .£50,i,U0 is as follows :—The Minister is empowered to soil the excels, and give a conveyance Co the purchaser, The pure-base nioney derived from the sale is Uoed to pay the costs of the sale, the CJBI of suivey, and the cost of roading, and the balance is to bo paid to the Public Trustee to the credit of the owner. In connection with all transfer* of land, the transferee must imkoa declaration that In ia not the ownoi- of land which, added to what he proposes to purchase, will exceed a thousand acres of lirst-oUss land, oJuO acres of second-class, and IU.OOU acres of third-class. The land board will, on being required to do so by the owner, classify the lands of any owner. Finally provision is made for regulations dealing with a number of subjects which crop up in connection with the measure.