LAND COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1451, 11 May 1905, Page 4

LAND COMMISSION.

(Pec? Press 'Association..) Auokland, last night. Thß Land Commission sat at Opua yesterday. Henry Lane, holder of , a email grazing run from tbe Government, said he believed the freehold tenure was beat, and thought that Crown tenants should be allowed to purchase the freehold at the original valuation. After ten years improvement Crown leaseholds were not saleable in this district, because people feared revaluation; His experience of the Advances to Settlers’ Department had been satisfactory, but up to within a oouple of years be had not found the administration of the land of the Crown, satisfactory. It was all right now. John Press also gave evidence, strongly supporting tbo freehold. The Commission left for Whaugaroa, where a meeting will be held on arrival. Whangaroa, yesterday. Before the Land Commission, T. Lane, County Chairman, said that unless a man got the freehold, he would not endure the ha dship of settling on bush land in the North. The homestead system was one of the best in the North. John Begg, a settler, favored the freehold. J. Hare, ex-County Chairman, said the perpetual lease was a good tenure, suitable for the development of bush and scrub land. B. Webber, a settler, said tbo lease in perpetuity would not deter him from taking up land. He preferred the right to purchase. W. Beid, solicitor, and County Clerk, Bay of Islands, thought o.r.p, tenants ought to bo allowed to acquire the freehold when the required improvements were oompleted. The freehold was the best tenure.