CROWN LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1090, 31 March 1911, Page 8

CROWN LANDS.

THE QUESTION OF AGGREGATION. Ou occasions the Wellington Land Board refuses applications for transfers of Crown land to prevent (he aggregation of rotates. The Commissioner (Mr. James Mackenzie) usually makes very searching inquiries in litis direction. Yesterday an interesting case came before the Board. The board was n:-kcd to reconsider the application of Mr. E. C. Allen In transfer the leases of two L.I.P. sections of land in the Xgamatea Block, comprising 10a acres and 754 acres respectively, to Mr. F. Robertson. The application had been refused at a previous meeting, Mr. A. Robinson attended. His rase was stated by Mr. T. Allison, AVangonui. Mr. Robinson is a retired settler at. AA*anganui. Mr. Allison stated that Mr. Robinson had been a settler in the backblocks for thirty years, and some time ago he had settled his eldest son on land adjoining, cleared 70 acres of bush for him, and guaranteed his account at the hank. Mr. Allen desired now to transfer those sections to Mr. Robinson, jun., and tho latter's father was agreeable. It was pointed out that, by paying off 33 per cent, of the capital value tho exchange could be effected, for Mr. Robinson would I hen have to deal with tho District Land Registrar. If the board would not deal amicably with Mr. Robinson the land would be acquired by this means. The Commissioner said that if the board complied it would appear to bo sanctioning a family aggregation. Mr. Robinson, sen., already held 2000 acres of Native land, another son 1174 acres'of Crown land, and Mrs. Robinson, sen., 1011 acres by a cross-transfer. This seemed to bo defeating the spirit of the Act. It was replied that Air. Robinson, sen., had no hand in the working of :the son's farm, nor interest in the profits. The Commissioner .returned that.it was not dcsirablo for such, a big lump of country to be held by' only two families residing- on what should support half a dozen families. Mr. Allison,' however, contended that in such a case as this tho land would be desirably settled. In .the course of further argument the Commissioner said .that tho board was getting more particular every day under the Act. Land was getting'scarcer. He intended to vote against the transfer. He believed the applicant was bona-fide but the intention of the Act'had to bconsidered. _ Tho matter was s'ubsequentlv considered in committee, and it was decided, on : a majority of the votes, to approve the application. '