The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1887. THE LAND BILL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1734, 13 December 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1887. THE LAND BILL.

Since passing its second reading the j Land Bill of the Hon G. F. Richardsonghas been m rather troubled waters. There was evinced during the ) debate strong hostility to some ct its leading features, and when under dis i cussion by the Waste Land Committee ' two very important amendments were carried. The maximum amount of rural land to be purchased by any one selector was limited by clause 2 to , 640 acres of ordinary land and 2000 acres of secood class land ■ m each Survey District. This was amended by the Committee by the substitution of the word " Land" for the word " survey." This greatly t reduces the aggregate area of the possible acquisitions of any selector m i the whole colony, as a " survey district." comprises only 100,000 acres while 1 the whole colony is divided into only ( ten " land districts." Another valuable amendment has been effected by the Waste Lands Committee. The system of disposing of the land by auction has , been expunged and the ballot system substituted m its stead. Many other ' amendments have been made all of which tend greatly to improve the I Bill. For instance, a declaration, to be made by purchasers, has been em- • bodied m the Bill itself instead of being left to be " prepared " by the ■ commissioner. This will undoubtedly operatsas no slight check to dummyism, if those who break its provisions are , properly looked after and prosecuted. Then again a clause has been added to 1 compel persons buying as trustees to declare that the perso s for whom ihey . purchase are resident m New Zealand. I A limit had also been placed on the j amount of land to be disposed of m i 1 any one year for cash. This has been ; fixed at an amount realising ; We are very glad that the da list: pro viding for the abolition of Land Boards has been so amended as to provide for the reconsti;ution of these Boards on an elective basis. In future these Boards will consis: of the Commissioner of Crown Lands and four members, three of such members to be elected by the Councils of Committees and the fourth b/ the Councils of Boroughs. On the whole the Bill has been vastly improved m its passage through the Committee, and has now been pretty deprived well of its former power for mischief, which greatly menaced the future prosperity of the Colony.