RIGHT OF REVIEW GIVEN

Chronicle (Levin), 10 September 1946, Page 8

RIGHT OF REVIEW GIVEN

—Press Association

CHARGES ON SOLDIER FARMS PROVISION BY GOVERNMENT

By Telearavh-

WELLINGTON, Sept. 9. An announcement that servicemer settlers settled on Crown lands undei the Small Farms Act, would be giver the riglit after three years ' oecupatioi of tlieii lioldings to appeal to the Land Settlement Board for a review of thc charges upon tlieir land, was made to nig-ht by the Minister of Lands, Hon, C. P. Skinner. The Minister said it was the praetict for charges on these properties to be fixed in aeeordance with values determinecl by the Land Settlement Board which valued each property on tlu same general principles that govern tlu fi.xi.ng of values under the Land Sale; Act. The greatest care was taken t( ensure in every case that the vafut placed on the property was fair aiu, reasonable and in line with eoniparablt values determined under the Land Saies Act by a Land Saies Committee. Tlu board was not coiicerned so much with ihe cost of the land to the Crown a? with the vaJue on a producti ve basis of the individual section wlien farmer by a servicennin. Deeisions weri i'ranied accordingiy. The value finalh decided upon, therefore, often meant L substantial writing off of capital be i'ore the land was allotted. Rental and any other charges were detenfiined oi, this basis. In effect, said Mr. Skinner, tlu board acts with respect to Crown land: under its jurisdiction, in much the sann niauner as a Land Saies Committee doe; with other lands but with the dii't'er ence that tliere was at present no riglit of appeal against any decisiou of the board. While the Government was satislied that the Land Settlemeni Board made every effort to be as faii as possible, its tusk was sometimes difficult and the Government felt that. under the cireumstances, provision should be made for a review of charges after a reasonable period of occupation. The action now proposed would puf .servicemen settlers in the same position as other Crown lessees who, under Land Acts, had the riglit to appJy for a revaluation after not less thau three nor more than six years. Tliere would be the riglit of appeal to the Land Saies Court against the board 's decisiou should a servieeman settler still be dissatisiied, and the Court would deal with sucli appeals as it would with appeals from a Land Saies Committee decisiou fixing the basie value." Alr. Skinner said legislatiou would be introduced giving statutory effect to the Govermnent 's decisiou which was a further proof of the Government 's desire to deal with servicemen settlemeni on the soundest possible basis. The Minister eniplnisised that the decision applies only to Crown lands selected at ballots or allotted to servicemen under the Small Farms Act and held by them 011 renewable Jease, or undei agreements for sale and purchase, or under the restricted type of freehold frequently known as ihe Waikato free liold.