Government’s Intention To Take Land Compulsorily For Soldiers Criticised By Mr Sullivan

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 21, 13 February 1948, Page 5

Government’s Intention To Take Land Compulsorily For Soldiers Criticised By Mr Sullivan

“It looks as though we shall have to give publicity to our intention to use Part II of the Act to a much greater extent,” said Mr Skinner. “I think we can safely say that anyone who hacl thought of selling land for settlement purposes has had plenty of time to do so. They have had at least three full years. We can now assume that, except in isolated ..eases, those contemplating the sale of some of their land for the settlement of ex-servicemen would have come forward by now.”

In reply to the Beacon’s enquiry as to the purpose of Part II of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act, and his opinion of the Minister’s statement, Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., said yesterday:— “Part II of the Act of 1943 gives the Minister power to take farm land for the settlement of discharged servicemen. No land shall be taken unless it is capable of subdivision into two or more economic units, and is, in the opinion of Land Sales, suitable for settlement. The

■owner shall have the right to retain any part of the land constituting an Economic Unit, at his option, containing the homestead. The Act

excludes the taking of Native land, within the meaning of the Native Land Act, 1931, and land administered by any statutory Board, or Body, for, and. on behalf of Natives. “Notice to take land must be served on the owner and occupier in writing. Such notice shall specify the date on which possession is required. Any owner may object to his land being so taken, and the objection must be made in writing to the Minister, within the specified time named in the notice of taking. The Minister has power to revoke the

notice, and if not revoked the objection shall be filed with the Land Sales Court. The objection is then referred to the Land Sales Commit-

With a falling-off evident in the amount of land being offered voluntarily for servicemen settlement, it appeared that more use would now have to be made of the compulsory clauses of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act, said the Minister of Lands and Rehabilitation, the Hon. C. F. Skinner, at the monthly meeting of the Rehabilitation Board.

tee presiding over the district, to be dealt with by that committee in accordance with the Act. The committee may allow or disallow the objection wholly, or in part, as the committee thinks fit. “If no objection is lodged, or if the Court disallows all objections, the Minister by Gazette notice may declare the land so taken. Compensation for land taken under Pai’t 11 of the Act, shall be deemed 'to be the' value as at December 1942, as determined by the Land Sales Committee. This value shall be determined on a productive basis, which when capitalised at 4J per cent, on the nett annual income,' will approximate the price to be paid. “Improved land now held is in full production. The change of ownership will not improve this, although it must be admitted subdivision will assist servicemen settlement. Everyone wants to see this done, and it is a' thousand pities that the Minister and his Department have not speeded up the' settlement of Crown lands now in pasture suitable for subdivisfon. “Areas of Crown land in the Bay of Plenty, yet unsettled, but farmed in large blocks are Galatea, where there are (now 60 settlers, and estimated to provide 150 farms. Then in the Rotorua district there are the Whirinaki, Waikete and Mifh Blocks, with something like 10,000 acres now in pasture, capable of making at least 50 farms. Other areas are in hand and unsettled, but new settlement would add considerably to exports and national wealth. The Minister states land owners are reluctant to. offer their land and improvements. Quite so at 1943 values, when all prices have increased considerably since then. Th'e British Act was amended to line up with values of January 1947. Further Of the farmer does sell, where will he live. It will take him 12 months to get a home, not at 1942 values, but at 1948 ever increasing prices; and if he invests his cash in Government Bonds, which income is treated as unearned and taxed accordingly, he would need social security assistance to live.

“The Minister and his Government need to look in the mirror, apply their efforts to the real job of Empire building, and quit the policy of pinch and take. The Land Sales Act as at present operating has brought a train of evil, and commercial corruption, but still operates in its vicious form.”