THE WASTE LANDS BOARD AND DEFERRED PAYMENT SETTLERS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3841, 7 November 1883, Page 3

THE WASTE LANDS BOARD AND DEFERRED PAYMENT SETTLERS.

[To the Editor of the Daily Teleokaph.] y IEj .—I see by your report of the proceedings of the Waste Lands Board on the 2Gth October that, when the decision of the Board was made known to me, I should be referred to rule 1-1 of the Association. Now, Sir, I did not expect the Board to know so little about the laws of the nation as to refer me to a rule that was repealed in 1882. Rule 1-1 reads as follows :— " Provided always that no purchaser shall be allowed to hold more than 150 acres under special settlement conditions." Now, Sir, I will refer the Board to the Land Act 1877 Amendment Act 1882. Provisions for relief for deferred payment settlers, clause 58, distinctly says if the land is paid for, or improvements done, land to the_ extent of 320 acres can bo taken up. It is remark - ably strange that our two members know nothing about tho Acts that are passed or amended for the benefit of special settlements or tho working classes. Perhaps they have been asleep, instead of Avorkingfor the town or district that returned them. The Board also referred me to rule 9 of the Association ;it reads as follows:—"The settlement shall be divided into allotments not exceeding 150 acres each, nor less then 30, according to tho requirements of tho purchasers." Now, Sir, one man applied for 50 acres when the settlement was opened, and it was surveyed for him, but, when tho time for selection came Mr

Tylee, who was then Commissioner, said ho wanted it for a reserve, and would not let it be selected, and tho Board refer me to the rule now that it ignored at the time of selection. I hope tho next election will make a change for the better for Hawko's Bay, as it is much wanted. —I am, «tc, Neil Thompson. Bush. Mills Settlement, November 5.