THE LAND BILL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1574, 18 October 1912, Page 4

THE LAND BILL.

Members, on the whole, nppcnr to have discovered vnry little to find fault with in the Government's Land Bill. While the measure cannot bo said to cover in full the policy of the llefonn party it does provide for some material amendments in the existing law which should go in the direction of promoting settlement and encourage more intense cultivation of existing holdings. The right to the freehold which is of-

fered to Crown tenants under the Bill will probably prtss without any very groat difficulty. There will always be differences of opinion as to what constitutes a reasonable bargain where the conversion of a Crown lease into a freehold iB concerned, and there may be room for argument as to the best method' of ascertaining the price to lie paid. Ou examination the proposals of the Government under the Bill now before the House will find favour with the majority of members. The feature of the Bill which in some respects is the most radical departure f?om the existing law is that relating to Native lands. It is made quite plain by this portion of the measure that the Government is fully determined that the great tracts of Native lands which at the present time are lying idle and profitless, both to the owners and to the country, shall be brought under cultivation as rapidly as possible. For years past we have had the professions of the Continuous Ministry of intention to open lip Native lands and a certain amount of settlement has, of course, gone on. But it has been a dismally slow process. The ties and restrictions imposed under the Native Land Acts have hampered the work of subdivision and impeded settlement. Now the Government proposes to sweep away most of the obstacles that have barred the way to speedy access to Native lands. These lands are to be treated practically as European lands are treated; save that the State will exercise proper care to see that the Native owners' interests are conserved and that nhey are not allowed to pauperise themselves. The proposal m the Bill marks a great departure from the taihoa methods which have prevailed under the Continuous Ministry.