LAND SALES ACT RETARDING INDUSTRY

Chronicle (Levin), 14 August 1947, Page 5

LAND SALES ACT RETARDING INDUSTRY

Press Association)

(Per

GREYMOUTH, August 13. Allegations tliat the operation of the Land Saies Act was retarding the estab lislimtbit -of aeeondary industries as well as the settlement of returned seryico men on tlie land, were made at a meeting of the executive of the South Isiand Local Bodics' Association.^ It was suggested by the chairman, Mr. Andrews, Ma-yor of Christchurch, that the principal difficulties aroac through inconsistencies in valuations. It appeared to many that Governnienl valuers from outside districts did not know the values as well as those domi ciled in a par-ticular distriet. Replying to the association 's representations that there be greater discretion&ry powers for Land Saies Com mittees in dealing with applications in relation to the establishment of nev\ industries in' the South Isiand, thc Minister of Lands, Hon. C. F. Skinner. stated that the Government kept a elose watch on the general operation oi the Act and recent deeisions on appeals and concluded that the Act gave the court discretion to deal fairly with owners of industrial lands. The chairman said he did not thinh .the association 's r-epresentafions deaii so much with actual regulations as with inconsistencies. When the Appeal Court fixed a sum to be paid for -.a block of land on a railway with a siding, at about £250 a aere — at which figure the owners would not sell — and then another block without a siding was allowed to go through at £400 an aere, b.uyqrs and selie'rs did not knou where they were. In regard to indus trial sites, said Mr. Andrews, the Minister '3 letter was pretty decisive Some council members considered cer tain land should be of more value tc industrialists t-han to the man -who wanted to build a few private houses Poi- instance, in one e.ase in Ohrist church a difference of £3000 or- £4000 - uj.eant nothing to a company with a eapital of £1,000,000 but it meant a great dea-1 to Ihe vendors and the resull was that it looked as if tlie land -con cerned was goin-g to be idle for many years. "I do not think we should do amy' more in the -matter," said Mr. Cameron Mayor of Dunedin. " I think that -tliis matter is outside the jurisdiction O"1 the association. We should do all pos sible to foater aeeondary industry but 1 I doubt the wisdom of the associatiou | criticising deeisions- of a judieial body They ihear all the evidcuce ,-and -wc | idon 't. ' '