ENDOWMENT LANDS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1920, Page 2

ENDOWMENT LANDS

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 21. In moving the second reading of the 'Land Bill to-tf|ght the Minister for Lands, said that the proposal to apply the deferred payment system to Crown and settlement land sold at auction, was in the interests of small men, who were not in a position to pai cash. This was particularly the ease when the land carried considerable improvements. He believed that deferred the payment system would be of great benefit to many people of small means. Returned soldiers would continue to have preference in land settlement under the repatriation scheme, but in other land settlement they were being placed equal with landless applicants with children, and landless applicants who had been twice unsuccessful a.t ballots. Government recognised that’landless men with children were entitled to consideration. The Minister added that the 'Bill proposed to give any :e----turned soldier occupying national endowment land the right to the freehold. This was in addition to the provision for settlement of some unoccupied endowment Land on the homestead system. He would move in Committee that the right of freehold should be extended also to allow other tenants of National Endowment land. He emphasised that he did not believe the State would lose anything by parting with endowment land. Much of this land was idle now and anything that would secure its profitable loecupation was a good thing for the country. The money, secured by the sale of this land would he invested and would give a better return than the land was now giving. The debate on the second reading <-f the Bill extended until after midnight Many members had something to say about tenures .and production. The advotes of leasehold made their protest agirist the sale of national endowments, hut it was obvious they were in a minority. Rotorua Town Lands .Bill was reported from Committee to-night without further opposition from leasholders. Tt now awaits further discussion in the House.