PASTORAL LEASES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1689, 4 March 1913, Page 4

PASTORAL LEASES.

BETTER TENURE REQUIRED.; The conference of Commissioners of Crown Lands of tho Dominion, which was oonvoned by tho Minister for Lands (tho Hon. AY. F. Massey); opened .vectorday morning. . All the Commissioners wero present, with the exception of Mr. M'Clure, of Southland, who is delayed by tho action pending in the Supreme Court nt Invercargill, Brighton, v. tho Commissioner of Crown Lands, and tho Minister for Lands, nnd Mr. Hazard, of Westlnnd, who is chairman of tho Forestry, Commissi'on. Addressing tho conference before it commenced its business, the Hon. W. F. Massey directed tho attention of tlio Commissioners to the necessity of altering tlio conditions under which land was now held under pastoral license. He emphasised tho fact that the carrying capacity of these lands had gone back tremendously during the past ten years, as a consccpicnco of which th© ront6 to bo received for them were likely to be very much smaller in tho future. Legislation was required giving tenants a more satisfactory tenure, with moro encouragement to make improvements, and somo special provision with regard to re-grassing.