LAND SALES ACT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 233, 29 June 1944, Page 4

LAND SALES ACT

R.S.A. Delegates Debate

Two absolutely opposed viewpoints on a Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Act remit,, originating with Eltham, were expressed last night at the R.S.A. Dominion Council conference. It concerned a suggested proviso to sub-clause C of Section 51 of the Act. Under this clause the Minister of Lands has the right, where a vendor offers his land for sale, to buy it at the valuation fixed by the Land Sales Court. The remit proposed recommending to the Government that section 51 be amended by adding this proviso to subclause C: —“Provided further that where any vendor is selling at the same time the whole of his farm laud as a single unit and such land is recommended for acceptance by the Minister on terms less favourable in any respect than those offered l>y the vendor, the vendor shall have the right to withdraw his land from sale.” The mover and chief speaker in support, Mr. J. Hessell (Eltham) claimed that such a proviso would remove the fear complex which prevented many perr song from offering their lund. For the opposition Mr. U. O. Bell (Wellington) considered that the addition of such a proviso would undermine the whole purpose of the Act and do soldier settlement tne greatest disservice. His amend? meut that the lands committee of the conference again consider the matter was carried on at least 60 per cent, of the voices.

This amended remit, arising from a ■New Plymouth remit, was adopted : “That in view of the difficulty which has arisen in some districts in acquiring an economic unit within the limits of rehabilitation now authorized, the Dominion executive committee represent that there be gome extension of the present limits in special cases.”