BALLOT FOR LAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1227, 8 September 1911, Page 6

BALLOT FOR LAND.

(By Tole^raph—Press Association.) Huntervillc, September 7.' Mr. James Mackenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands, assisted by the Land Board, conducted a most successful ballot for Crown lands at tho Town Hall, Marlon, to-day. Tho land is known as the Moriiiui Block, in the Waimarino district, and comprises an area of about 23,000 acres. Prior to the ballot the whole of the lands had boon applied for. Applications had closed at 4 o'clock on Wednesday. There was a large atlondaneo of nppli- , cants present at the ballot. Before tho proceedings commenced the Commissioner addressed tho applicants, pointing out that the board had gone carefully through each application, and had given ovary deserving man a fair chance. Following the well-dciinod previous policy of his board, people who were not landless were rejected. Tho same rule was applied to single women, except, |x-rlnps, in such a ease as a daughter keeping house for a widower father. The Commissioner drew attention merely as a warning, to tho penal clauses of the Land Act. At the completion of the ballot seven(eou applications were received for five sections, which remained una.lloted. These will be balloted for in Wellington diortlr.