LAND PROPOSALS EXKPLAINED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 170, 18 July 1907, Page 3

LAND PROPOSALS EXKPLAINED.

HOST. IK..i£cXAB'S TMPOBXAX'E STATEMENT. EXTX>\YJfEST-'AREAS-TO BEcSFECIFIED.

how: the proportions -weee

ASCERTADvED.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON. Wednesday.

Though the land proposals were dealt with at considerable length by the Premier in the Financial Statement, some misapprehension existed in the minds of members as 'to the extent to which the optioanl privilege would apply, and there was also uncertainty in regard to the endowment proposals. With the object of clearing up the doubts a few questions were put. to the Hon. R. McNab, Minister for Lands.

""Will the granting of the option to lease in perpetuity tenants cover those holding 999 years leases under the Lands for Settlement Act?" Mr MeNab was asked.

'•No," replied the Minister, "tenants on the estates such as Mat.ama.ta. Selwyn and Fencourt win not be able to secure the right of purchase, but they may convert to the renewable lease., and under its provisions pay GO per cent of the capital value and thus avoid the restrictions imposed by the land boards."

"It has been suggested that the allocation of endowment land constitutes a bribe for the support of the North?"

'■"Nothing of the sort," said Mr McNab. "Let mc explain how we arrived at the proportions to be set aside as endowments in the two islands. An officer of the La.nds Department was instructed to ascertain the total area of Crown land coasting in the various provinces, and to Sake from each a definite proportion, as the area intended for endowment. Having arrived at the proportion by the ruie of three, and influenced by no other consideration, he hande-i the result to us, and we took the nearest round numbers, as the proposed area."

"How- much of the endowment land is sett'ed?"

"To the best of my recollection." said the Minister, "there is more unoccupied ianti in Auckland than land settled, but it is the other way about in the South. The proportion of 1.215.000 acres in the Xorth Island against 7.75.3.000 acres of endowment bears out what I said zt Onehnnga in reply to the Xorthem critics, and repeated all along, viz., that it was not proposed to take the land of theXorth to educate the sons of the South."

"Are you able to indicate the nature of the land intended to be set aside for endowment V

"I think I cxm tell you," replied Mr MeXab. "that the actual parcels of land to be set aside Trill be specified in the schedule to the bill. We "have no objection at all to the parcels being Used by the House. It will do away with the suggestion thai, having secured authority to set aside a certain area for endowment, we picked the eyes out of the Crowe lands for that purpose."

"How would the 250.000 acres of Piako Swamp do as a portion of Auckland's contribution of 9(10,000 acres V was asked, but Mr McXab's explanation had reached its limit. He shook his head, thoughtfully, and after a few seconds gave tbe non-committal answer, "the specific lands to be included will be for Parliament to say.^ .