LAND COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1763, 1 June 1906, Page 2

LAND COMMISSION.

GLOSSING OVER RECENT SCANDAL,

SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS,

By, telegraph, Fnn Asa’n, Copyrigh

Rfcaived 6.35 p m., May 31,

Sydney, May 3

Tho report of the Lands Commission has been issued. It finds that of sums reci iv. d by Peter Close as land agent in respect of matters then being dealt with by tbe Minuter for Lands, Crick aooepted one-half, but that no effieer of the Departmrnt teosived aDy money from Close; that it is desirable to plena tbo administratration of tho Land Department iu the bands of a Board of Commissioners ia order to free it from political influence ; that land agents should be registered and plaocd under oont'ol of tho Land Appeal Court.

Reoeived 6 42 p.m , May 31.

The recommendations in the Land Commit sion report inolude that in order to supply the demand for agricultural land all unnecessary reserves should be cancelled ; purobases of private lands should as far as practicable be effected under the Closer Settlements Act, and every en oouragement given to the sub-division and sale cf privsts estates by tbe owners ; also the making cf experiments with bore water to ascertain the best method of app'jiog it to eg -'culture, and oonaidera-ion of irrigation, light railways, aud conserving water whioh now runs to waste, as aids to closer settlement.

A LITTLE WHITEWASH.

By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association—Copyright.

Rcoeived 11,56 p m., May 31.

Sydney, May 3

The Lands report exonera’.ed the Government in oonneetion with the puroha?e of Myall Creek property. It considered the State he.d acquired the land at a reasonab'o piice, and was not effected by tbe commiesioo paid by the venders to the agents. Thoro was also ncthiDg in the evidenoe to implicate Mr Carruthers in any of tho land transactions.