C—l

3

prior to offering them for selection, and authority is given in the case of Crown lands to offer them at prices lower than actual cost in cases where the future tenants could not profitably occupy the land at prices based on the full cost. Authority is given for the Lands Development Board, on the recommendation of the various Land Boards, to make advances to tenants of undeveloped Crown and settlement lands for the erection of buildings, and for clearing, grassing, fencing, &c. Such advances may be authorized up to 90 per cent, of the estimated value of the improvements, and are to be secured by way of mortgage on the borrower's interest in his holding. All moneys required for the carrying-out of development work, and for the making of advances, are to be paid out of the Land for Settlements Account, into which account will be repaid all moneys received by way of interest and principal in respect of advances made for the development of settlement lands, and also practically all the proceeds derived from developed Crown lands, whether comprising rent, purchase-money, or instalments of principal and interest in respect of advances made. The Minister of Finance is authorized, in addition to the power already conferred upon him by section 44 of the Land for Settlements Act, 1925, for the raising of funds not exceeding £1,000,000 in any year for the purpose of acquiring lands for settlement purposes, to raise sums not exceeding £5,000,000 for the purchase of lands, for developing Crown and settlement lands, and for making advances to tenants of undeveloped Crown and settlement lands. Amongst the miscellaneous provisions of the Act the following may be mentioned : — A provision extending the operation of section 12 of the Land Act, 1924, so as to permit of the disposal of lands comprised in roads or streets which have been closed under former Land Acts. Authority for the Minister, acting on the recommendation of a Land Board, to dispose of land comprised in closed roads abutting on river-banks. An amendment to section 113 of the Land Act, 1924 (dealing with preference at ballots) to enable Land Boards in certain circumstances to give preference in ballots to single men equal to the preference already extended to landless applicants with children dependent on them, landless applicants who have been unsuccessful in two previous ballots, soldiers who served in the war with Germany, and South African war veterans. A provision fixing the rental payable under renewable leases of lands acquired out of the Native Land Settlement Account at 5 per cent, of the capital value. An extension of revaluation provisions to enable land that has been revalued under Part I of the Discharge! Soldiers Settlement Amendment Act, 1923, to be further revalued, if necessary, under section 216 of the Land Act, 1924. The exemption of town and suburban lands sold by the Crown from the restrictions imposed by Part XIII of the Land Act, 1924. Extensions of the existing provisions against the aggregation of private land preventing the wife or husband of any person who is barred by the restriction imposed by section 374 of the Land Act, 1924, from acquiring any land which is subject to such restriction ; and declaring that the wife or husband, as the case may be, of any person deemed to be an aggregator shall be one and the same person for the purposes of sections 381 and 382 of the principal Act. Sections providing that occupiers of Crown and settlement lands under temporary licenses or permits shall be liable for payment or rates, but only on such value as represents the temporary and limited nature of their grazing-rights. Authority for the appointment of a local Land Purchase Board for the North Island, and another such Board for the South Island. Members of the Dominion Land Purchase Board will be ex officio members of the local Boards, the other members of which will comprise two persons to be appointed by the Crown, and the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district within which the land being dealt with is situated. An alteration in the method of assessing the compensation payable to the owners of estates compulsorily acquired by the Crown for closer settlement providing that in the case of compulsory acquisition both the unimproved value and the improved value of the land shall be fixed by the Compensation Court in the manner provided by the Public Works Act, 1928. Provision for the extension of the term for the purchase of buildings on settlement lands, and for the revaluation of such buildings where necessary. The Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1929, contains seventeen clauses dealing with Crown lands, reserves, &c. Lands for Selection. During the year 402,900 acres were taken up on various tenures, the number of selections being 2,091 under all headings. These figures include some 728 sections, comprising altogether an area of 88,859 acres, taken up under miscellaneous leases and licenses, so that the selections on permanent tenures numbered 1,363 sections, covering a total area of 314,041 acres. The following table gives the selections of Crown lands for the last five years :— Selections under all Tenures. Year ending Number. f^' 31st March, 1926 .. .. .. .. ..1,390 347,716 31st March, 1927 .. .. .. .. .. 1,711 456,590 31st March, 1928 .. .. .. .. .. 1,913 460,590 31st March, 1929 .. .. .. .. .. 1,911 462,563 31st March, 1930 .. .. .. .. .. 2,091 402,900