P.—No. 11

The Joint Committee appointed to consider all Bills affecting Waste Lands of the Crown have exam ined the Otago Waste Lands Bill referred to them and recommend that the same be passed into law subject to the amendments and alterations advised by the Committee to be made therein and particularly specified in the Schedule hereto appended. AVith respect to the policy involved in the clauses of the Bill mentioned below, the Committee offer the following remarks : — Ist. That in the opinion of the Committee the restriction upon the amount of valuation for improvements, in section 78, is opposed to public policy and injurious to the interests of the Province; but as such restrictions will not operate for a number of years the Committee do not consider it necessary to recommend its being struck out of the Bill. 2nd. With respect to the addition to section 83, providing that no compensation shall be given for improvements made during the current leases, the Committee have proposed no alteration in this provision, because they have been given to understand that it is the result of an arrangement between the parties themselves principally concerned, and which was fully discussed in the Provincial Council. At the same time they desire to express their own opinion of the impolicy of any provision which (besides other objections) tends to discourage and prevent the improvement of the country by an expenditure which would otherwise have been made upon improvements of a permanent character, such especially as fencing and the sowing of grasses, which by increasing the carrying capabilities of Ihe runs would ultimately increase the Provincial Eevenue to be derived from assessments upon the si ock depastured thereon. 3rd. The provision for the sale of lands comprised in Hundreds, at ten shillings an acre, being considered by the Committee an alteration in the law which would materially and injuriously affect the interests of other Provinces than Otago, they have recommended that it be struck out. The same remark applies to the provision to enable the Governor to reduce the price of land on the recommendation of the Superintendent and Provincial Council. Alfeed Domett, Chairman of Joint Committee. 9th August, 1866.

REPORT OF THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONSIDER ALL BILLS RELATING TO WASTE LANDS OF THE CROWN.