LAND LEGISLATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1785, 25 June 1913, Page 6

LAND LEGISLATION.

PASTORAL LEASE PKOIILEM, "Land legislation, is novel- complete,*' said (ho Minister for Lands (the Hon,' W. F. Massoy) in conversation with an interviewer last evening, "but I hope to pass a very important instalment of onr land policy during tlio coming session." Tho land legislation to lw introduced by tlio Government during tlio coming session will include a measure dealing with tho pastoral licenses undor which n very large area of Crown land is now held in tho Dominion. Tho object of tlio measure, tho Minister states, is to givo tho tenants n more, secure form of tenure than they have at tho present time, and to encourage them to make improvements. Owing to there being 110 such inducement under present conditions, tho carrying capacity of the.so lands has decreased during tho last few years. Throe objects will bo aimed at in the Hill to bo introduced : (1) To secure the observance of tho proper season for burning off old grass; (2) keeping rabbits in chock; and (!i) tho grassing of tho land as it requires it. It is hoped to induce tho tenants to nnv attention to these requirements by giving them a better system of tenure. A large numbar of tho licenses have lately fallen in, nnd the tenants have been permitted to continue in possession of their runs on tho present conditions, wilding tlio introduction of the legislalion. A large number ot other leases will also fall in shortly.