LAND COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1438, 26 April 1905, Page 2

LAND COMMISSION.

)at I (Per Press Association.) 3e- I Christchurch, last night. :ch I The Land Commission resumed work ar. this morning after the Easter vacation, ad I They took further evidence at Christohurch he I and a number of witnesses were examined id. during the day. at I The officer in charge of the Christchurch it. I Advances to Settlors Office stated that e, j there was no unnecessary delay in grantd I ing loans to lease applicants. The office id held 472 mortgages over lands in Canter3. I bury, totalling 4140,740. if I Wilfred Hall, sheep farmer, of Glenroy, I- I a member of Executive of North CanterI bury Farmers’ Union, stated that the I brisk land values were not due to the uny I earned increment caused by population, j I but to industrial prosperity. It would be , 3 I a wise policy for the State to sell as much ] j I Crown land as possible at the present <; , J prices, for everything pointed to the fact I that the present price would not be main- j I tained. He did not think the State as a ft I landlord was better than the private indi- j, I vidual, for the latter was legally bound by I grant, but the State could at any time I break it. , Crown tenants should be given I the option of acquiring the freehold at the I original valuation. Settlement could best J be effected by granting the freehold. Henry Williams, Crown land ranger, I stated that- tbo tenants he had spoken to I had laughed at the notion that they wore D: afraid to come before the Commission and pe I give evidence in favor of the freehold. The tei majority of tenants were satisfied with ex- W isting conditions. no Hugh Mcßloyn, carpenter, favored in lease in perpotnity. He objected to the Co large deposits required before applicants Th could go to the ballot. a j a The Commission resumos at 10 a.£B, ord to-morrow. The