LAND SETTLEMENT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14977, 26 May 1914, Page 7

LAND SETTLEMENT.

THE. QUESTION OF TENURES

COMMISSION APPOINTED. (special to "the γ-jiess.") WELLINGTON. May 2-5. Two objects which have always bulked largely in tho policy of tho Reform Government—the encouragement of settlers and tho promotion of s-ettlement—■ 810 intended to be served by a commission, the appointment of which was generally approved by Cabinet yesterday. The Commission is instructed to enquire into the conditions 'under'which land is held from the Crown, with a view to providing tenures which will be more satisfactory to settlers, aud at the same timo safeguard tho interests of the State. The members of the Commission are:— Mr J. StranchoD, lato tTndcr-Sccro-tary for Lands: Major Lusk, President of the Auckland 'Farmers , ; l/nion; and Mr John Allman Marchant, managing director of tho Ruatapu sawmill, near Hokitika. Mr Marchant is a son ot' Mr J. W. A;. ;Marchant, formerly SurveyorGeneral. ; Tho Commission is "to conduct its enquiries in tho first, instance in W6stland and Nelson, afterwards, with possibly some slight alteration in-t'ho personnel atid in the order of reference, it will extend its enquiries to North Auckland, and then to tho Thames, Paeroa, and Botorua districts.

Each member of tho Commission is an expert. ■ Mr Sfcrauchon was at time Commissioner of Crown Lands in Westlsnd, where the enquiry is to begin.- Naturally, after. his long connexion with the Lands Department, of which ho ultimately became the head, he has n very full of matters relating to tenure of land and land administration.

Major Lusk is a. surveyor, who has a wide knowledge of tenures, and Mr .Merchant's special knowledge as a sawmiller .will also bo of value to the Commission, since tho enquiry concerns Euch matters as timber rights, and leases, as well as ordinary settlement. The Prime Minister informed a reporter this evening that when he last visited the West Coast of the South Island, he received scores of requests from settlers for tho appointment •>{ Such a Commission as has now been set up. Much trouble is experienced from the overlapping of timber interests and the interests of settlement, but the Primo Minister is confident that the matters in dispute can readily bo adjusted with benefit to all concerned, and in 6ucli a way as to encourage tho progress of settlement. It has already been indicated that the Commission will enquire exhaustively into tho question of tenures with a view to suggesting improvements, and this, Mr Massey stated, would tend in a valuable degree to extend tho profitable occupation of Crown lands.