Land Law Amending Bill

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1922, Page 1

Land Law Amending Bill

j CONCESSIONS TO PASTORAL i -LESSEES. ! WELLINGTON, Jan 31. I The Land Laws Amendment Bill was i introduced in the House of Representatives late to-night. ! Tlie Bill contains provisions concerning pastoral lands on the lines recommended hy a recent Royal Commission. It lias also some general provisions affecting Crown and endowment lands. Tho improvements required of the lesses of pastoral lands disposed of hereafter shall he: (1) In the .first year equal in value to one year’s rent; (2) in the first two years equal to two years’ rent; (3) in the first six yejirs equfil to four years’ rent. The Minister' may modify these requirements on the; advice of the Land Boards, if the pro- - visions are unreasonable.

•In special cases holders of pastoral lease or tp be given the same privileges in regard to postponement of rent as are at present enjoyed by Crown tenants. The reason for which the term ,of a pastoral lease may he extended is that of substantial loss due .to a. decrease in the price of stock or produce, or to any general financial stringency. Clause 12 makes provision for tho acquisition of the fee .simple of pastoral land, where the lease is longer than fourteen years. The cash or deferred payment system is to apply, the value to be pot -less than the unimproved value at the time of disposal, together with .the .Crowns interest in nfly improvements. $0 person shall be entitled .to secure the freehold pf an gr.fia greater than is sufficient in the opinion of the Board for .the maintenance of .the lessee and his family.

National endowment land held under a pastoral lease or .license for a term of not less than fourteen years have expired, may be removed from the category of national endowment land by proclamation, if the area held by the lessee is not more than sufficient to maintain him and his .family. The lapd may thereafter be acquired as. freehold by the lessee in the same way as provided by the preceding section. Tho 5000 acre limit prescribed by the original Act for* land acquired by one person from the Crown is not to apply tp such lands.

The Land Board may, with the approval of the Minister ex,tend 3, pastoral lease for fourteen years at the existing rent. This may also apply to Education Reserves administered by a Land Board :jf the Minister of Education consents.

Tlie Minister of Education stated in repjy .to a question yi the House whep tjie Bill was introduced, that th.cre w.as no provision for granting the freehold of Education Endowments.

Where rural Crown land or settlement land is held under fioense, with a view to purchase by deferred payment, and where the present fipgpcial stringency is making it impossible for the licensee to keep up his payments, an