THE LAND ACT

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14494, 18 October 1920, Page 5

THE LAND ACT

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. DEFINITION OF "LANDLESS.' 1 ACQUIREMENT OF FREEHOLD. Bv Telegraph—Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Saturday. The Land Bill contains many provi ions in addition to those indicated in the previously telegraphed summary. The preference clause in regard to ball' is provides that an applicant is to be regarded as landless if he does not hold a sufficient area of land for the maintenance of himself and his. family. Provision is made for the sale by auction of limited areas of Crown lands, or of land of inferior quality, deemed unsuitable for a separate holding. The present procedure in this respect is cumbrous and expensive. The provision for the exchange of Crown and private lands Is widened by the remov , of the limit of 2T) per cent of the .hie of the land at preseit pho T or. payments b; way of equality of ;xc!ians;. The holder of a section of Crovm land under occupation with right of purchase {enure, is to lie a-iowed to surrender any part of the land with the consent of the Land Board. This provision is intended to meet the cases of men who find they have more land than they can handle. Additional protection is given to the tenants of small grazing runs in regard to their improvements. The area of national endowment land that may he sold for public purposes under the Land Act. 1908, is increased from five acres to ten acres, and the area that may be held under occupation lease in a mining district is increased from 100 acres to 200 acres.

extended provision Is made for the postponement of the balance of rent by Crown lenants. in the event of natural disaster or from any other cause.

The richt to purchase the freehold of settlement land held on lease in perpetuity is revived and may he exercised by the lenanl at any time within five years.

Tin' right to'acquire the freehold is In be granted to the owners of renewable louses (if land sot apart under the Hauraki Plains Act.

Provision is proposed for investigations will] reference In the acquisitions of land in contravention of the law, and the Government may appoint commissioners who will have wide powers of investigation.