The Land Board and Dummyism

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 145, 30 May 1891, Page 2

The Land Board and Dummyism

The following is the precis of the Land Board's action in connection with the administration, of the Land Acts which has been decided to give to the press for publication : — " Statement as to the Land Board's action in detecting and punishing the cases of eyasions of the Land Acts. On the 29th .August, 1889, the Board considered the whole question of the. administration of the Land Act, dummyisms, surveys, road works, and land settlement, and resolved to apply to the Victoria and New South Wales Lands Departments for information. Between this date, 29th August and October 10th,: 1890, the Board ' on several occasions discussed the question, • and after waiting for specific amendment in the Land Acts, recommended' the Government to issue re,gulations to empower the Board to examine applicants on oath to test their bona fides. On the 30th October; 1890, the board went into the cash purchases, and on the 12th November, 1890, forwarded to the Government a schedule of cases which appeared to require investigation. On the 25th of April, 1889, the Board also resolved to insist that all per- - sons transferring their holdings should furnish all particulars of premiums paid. The Board have held enquiries in the Kaiwhataand S. W. Puketoi cases, and more lately, on the suggestion of the head office, in the Ratsey and Svenssen oases. Special inspections have been made of a number of holdings where the Board doubted the selector's bona fides. The Ranger had been frequently Consulted as - to evasions of the Act, but Btated he was unable to bring a single case before the Board. The Land Board have on various - occasions since the great sale of August 1889, considered tbe position and bona fides of the selectors in this district, and have named all persons " whom they have suspected, and have discussed the possibility of taking proceedings against the* parties, but found that nothing whatever could be done till the ranger had inspected and reported on the holdings ; the Board's action having been postponed in consequence of the staff of rangers being insufficient. In the absence of legislation and regulations such as the Board deemed essential, the Board with the approval of the Government, have offered the Crown land* on the, unsurveyed system, as the one best adapted to prevent speculation and dummyism, and the Board have met on the sale days and have backed the Commissioner in his eflort to put a stop to attempts by selectors to obtain undue advantages ,or to evade ' the Act in any manner. The Board have strained their power to the utmost on these occasions to prevent «vasion-of th* Land Act. (Signed) J. W. A. Mabohant, Crown Landj/J