THE LAND LAWS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 269, 2 August 1918, Page 6

THE LAND LAWS

FARMERS' VIEWS

VARIOUS AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED Various sides to the land law? of New Zealand were discussed by the New Zealand farmers' Union Conference yesterday. Mr. AY. B. Matbeson fTCketnhuna) moT . ed:—"That the Government ho iiri;ed to extend the time granted to L.I.I 1 , settlers in which to make their land freehold." This was seconded by Sir. ,T. TI. .101 l (Jlavelock North), and agreed to l>y a large majority of Hie delegates. Mr. W. Confer (Matnura Island) tlion moved that the Government should again be urged to promote land nettlement. Mr. JI. Dunn (Auron) seconded the motion, which was carried. Tlie subject of national endowmentlands was introduced by Jlr. K. D. Dnx< (ieJd (Horotiii), who moved:—"That occupiers of national endowment land be granted the option oV purchasing tho freehold, and all land to bo thrown open on tho«e terms as required; the proceeds from the sale of such lands to bo reinvested for the benefit of the endowment for wliich they are intended." With this was coupled the following remit from Taranaki:—"That the Government bo asked In legislate thai (lie occupiers oi' national endowment lands be granted the option of purchasing the Ireehold of the holdings, and all- to be thrown open on these terms as required. ■Hie union being of the opinion that tho proceeds can bo reinvested to much creator advantage for tho purposes of the endowment." The propolis were seconded by ifr. it. Dunn (Anion). ah-. I'V Whitwell (Wnkapunka) moved to strike out all the. words after "reinvested" in the Taranaki remit, mid to substitute for the portion deleted tho following words:-"Tn the acquisition ••i iid development of land suitable for iiiilional forestry." Tho. amendment was defeated, and the motion was carried by a large majority. The following Hawke's Bay motion wa-; cam?d :-"That this conference of liinners desires to impress upon the Government the urgent necessity of appointing two qualified farmers," to act in conjunction with the Commissioner or two members of the Land Board, in electing and approving of land for settlement within their own farming district. This practice to be adopted in nil parts of tho Dominion." On the subject of royalties, the conference resolved :-"Thnt this union is slrongly of opinion (hat the Minister of Lands should amend the Lnnd Act to enable local bodies to receive half-roynl-ties on timbers in all cases where 'tho value of the timTjor has bwn added to the value of .the land." ■. The old subject of accrued thirds was introduced by Pelorus, and it was rcRolvccl:—"That, this union considers it is only, fair and just that whenever anv lands nre disposed-of, either for cash oV otherwise, ih« usual accrued 'thirds' (as based on a leased section) should bo allotted lo the local road board or county council and that the Minister of Lands bo urged to see that it is given effect It was also resolved to adopt tlm following remit from Pelorus—"That n strong recommendation .be made to tho Minister of Lands that, before completing the purchase of nny lands", either for returned soldiers or land for settlement, that the local land board, in whose district such purchase is contemplated, bo referred to for their opinion."