THE LAND BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1920, Page 4

THE LAND BILL

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) _WELLINGTON, Oct. 10. The Land'Bill was under discussion for an hour or two to-<liiy. Tho Lands Committee had considered it and recommended it should he allowed to proceed with one''amendment, providing tliat a single child was sufficient to admit a landless applicant to the preference class in land ballots. Soveral of the lease holders took tho opportunity to protest against the proposed sale of the national endowment lands. They contended that the public estate was being sold in the interests of a few favoured people. Mr Forbes (Huruuui) charged Government with a breach <*Lfaith in Us dealings with lessees of small grazing runs. These tenants believed that they had a perpetual right of renewal, the rent to be on 2J per cent, basis. The Government said some years ago that ■ such very good terms had not been intended and that the leases were subject to revaluation, the rent after first term to he assessed at four per cent. One. tenant appealed to thc Courts and established before the Privy Council Ids right to. have it renewed oil the 24 per cent, basis, '[lien The Government in 1918 embodied its reading ,of the intention of Parliament in retrospective legislation, so that no other lessees have got the benefit of flic Privy Council's decision.

Mr Forbes said this amounted to repudiation of contract. The Prime Minister and Minister for Lands both Replied that Parliament had never intended to let small grazing runs on a perpetual 21 per cent, basis. The law had been badly drafted, hut the Government had been fully justified in having the mistake rectified and the leases put on proper basis. Mr Guthrie added that it would he absurd to contend that leaseholds should enjoy greater security 'than freeholders. Government had the right to resume leaseholdsif the public interest required this stop, and it must have a similar right to review leasehold ararngements. He was willing to acknowledge the sincerity of niombers wlio were- opposing the proposed sale of national endowment lands, lint the majority of the 'House .and of the people believed in the freehold ten* ure, and majority must rule. The recommendation of the Committee was accepted on the voices.