THE LAND BILL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2276, 9 October 1914, Page 7

THE LAND BILL

SEVERAL IMPORTANT CHANGES. The Chairman, of the Lands Committee (Mr. Edward Newman) yesterday reported to the House of Representatives the Land Laws Amendment Bill in which the Committee made a few important alterations. . Clause 3, dealing with the classification of land, has been struck out and replaced by a new clause limiting the application of the scheme to land /not already classified under Section 125 of the Land Act, i.e., it will not apply to ordinary Crown land that prior to disposition is classified by a Land Board. Clause 4 has been struck out and replaced by a new clause.. It deals with Section 166 of the Lamd Act relating to the purchase of Crown lands for cash. Under that section of the Act, no title could issue if the required improvements were not-made within seven years from the date of purchase. The- purpose of the amendment is to allow the Crown to issue a title at any time on the completion of improvements. The amendment gives the Board power to forfeit the purchaser's interests if' the improvements aro not made withiu ten years.

A new clause has been added making the (janie provision with respect to the subdivision of settlement small grazing runs apply to ordinary Crown land. As the law stands at present, the lessee cannot acquire the fee simple of part of a run if the total area of the run exceeds the prescribed limit of 5000 acres ordinary Crown land, or 3000.acres of settlement land.

Another new clause will enable the Government in certain cases to purchase under tho Land for Settlements Act allotments' taken up under the Land Settlement Finance Act.

Clause 30 is a "war clause." It gives power to allow the rebate for prompt payment of rent in cases where such prompt payment cannot be made. This clause is to remain in operation for only one year. /.'