CROWN LAND TENURES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2158, 26 May 1914, Page 6

CROWN LAND TENURES

"AN OMCIAL INQUIRY

PROMOTION. OP SETTLEMENT

Two objects which have always bulked largely in tho policy of tho Reform Government—tho.encouragement of settler's and tho promotion of settlement— aro intended to bo served by a commission, the appointment of which was finally approved, by Cabinet yesterday. Tho commission is instructed to inquire into, tho conditions under. which land is held from tho Crown, with a view to providing tenures which will bo more .satisfactory to settlers, and at tho same time safeguard the interests of tho State. Tho members of tho commission aro: Mr.'J. Strauchon (late UnderSecretary for Lands), Major Lusk, president of the Auckland Farmers' Union, and Mr. John Allman Marchant, managing .director of the Iluatapu sawmill in Westport, near Hokitika. Mi Marchant is a son of Mr. J. W. A Marchant, formerly .Surveyor-General.

Tho commission is to conduct its inquiries in tho first instance- in AVestland and Nelson. Afterwards, with possibly fiomo slight alteration iu personnel and in the order of refcrenco, it will extend its inquiries to North Auckland, and then to tho Thames, Paeroa, and Rotorua districts.

Each member of the commission is an expert. Mr. Strauchon was at one time Commissioner of Grown Lands in AVestland, where tho inquiry is to begin, and naturally', after his long connection with tho Lands Departmont, of which he ultimately became the head, he has a very full knowledge of matters relating to tonure and land administration. 'Major Lusk is a surveyor, and has a wide knowledge of tenures, and Mr. Merchant's special knowledge as a sawmiller will also be of value to the commission, sinco tho inquiry concerns such matters as timber rights and leases, as well as ordinary .settlement.

Tlie Prime Minister informed a reporter last evening that when he last visited the West "Coast of the South Island he received scores of requests from settlers .for the appointment of such n commission as has now been set up. Much trouble is experienced from the overlapping of timber interests and the. interests of settlement, but the Prime Minister'is confident that the matters in dispute can readily bo adjusted with benefit to-all concerned, and in ssuch a way as to encourage the progress of settlement. It has already been indicated that the commission will inquire exhaustively into tho question of tenures, with a view to suggesting improvements, and , this, .Mr. Massey stated, would tend in a valuable degree to extend thr> profitable occupation of Crown land.