PROPOSED LAND EXPROPRIATION BILL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1402, 9 November 1886, Page 2

PROPOSED LAND EXPROPRIATION BILL

In connection with the subject of to day’s leading article we reprint from an Oamira exchange the suggestions of the Chairman of the local Land League as the groundwork of a Land Expropriation Bill. They are as follows : 1 That the Government should be empowered to tike by purchase such land as may be required for tho purpoae of settlement, always having resoect to the present holder’s interest by giving them a pre-emptive right over sufficient of their present holdings for their life-time, such pre-emption to be limited tc «... cres, the object being to enable the Government ultimately to purchase and possess all such lands, 5, That the Government shall survey in blocks from ten acres and upwards, according to quality and p’oximlty to centres, no block to exceed 640 acres of arable land. 3 That no person shall hold more than 200 acres within 10 miles of a town consisting of a population of 500 inhabitants. 4. Tbit no one parson shall have more than one allotment for the first five years 6. That there shall be no subdivision of any block for the first five years, and the const)-1 of the governing body to be obtained before any oua person cm hold more than one allotment after that period 6. That it shill not be Ibgal for any person to advance money on the crops cr improvements 7. That when any small holder shall desire to extend his at the expiration of five years, he shall have the privilege of selling his right of interest in his leasehold to hona fide settlers, and be entitled to select laud to the extent of 640 acres, subject to the approval of the governing body, 8. That the rent be a fixed sum per ace. 9 That'all applications, if more than one, be dtt>rmt ed t.y priority of application, and if there he two or more to be determined by lot. 10, That the governing body be the C >unty Council, wi'h such additions of Government nominees, etc., as may be deemed desirable