The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 17th, 1925. LAND LAWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 17th, 1925. LAND LAWS.

Thu Lunds for Settlement Bill introduced in the Mouse of Bepre.sentatives last week is mainly a consolidation of the Act of 1903 anil its amendments and is complementary to the Act passed last session. With few exceptions, there has been little .substantial alteration of the substance of the la«. The first has reference to the right vested in the owners of lessees-in-perpetuity of settlement land to acquire the fee simple. As the law at present stands that right is due to expire on November 10th., 1925. This limitation of time has been extended by the Bill, and it is proposed to allow to such lessees a further term of live years within which they may elect to exercise their right. Section GO of the Land Laws Act Amendment Act, 1912. which relates partly to restrictions on the acquisition of the feesimple of settlement land, and partly to restrictions on the acquisition by lease or otherwise of more than one allotment of settlement land has been divided, part of the section appearing as Clause 50 of the Bill, and part as Clause 8-5. With respect to Clause 5(1 of the present Bill. Subclause (2| is new in form, but is merely an express application of provisions that now apply to the same subject matter as contained in Sub-Section (2) of Section 60 of the Land Laws Act Amentment Act. 1912. With respect to Clause 85 of the Bill, an alteration has been made in order to give effect to what was the obvious intention of the original provision as contained in Sub-Section (li of Section 60 of the Act of 1912. That sub-section referred lo only to “settlement land.” The clause in the Bill refers to “land which is. or was at any time, settlement land.” If this was not the intention if the original section its provisions as to the endorsement of certificates of :itie were futile, inasmuch as the restrictions would cease to operate so icon as the land ceased to be settlenent land (that is on its acquisition in fee-simple). The clause ms now

appearing in the Bill adopts the construction that has always been placed by the Department on the present lav.-. The limitation of 5000 acres in respect of lands that were formerly comprised in leascs-m-pcrpetuity is also in accordance with present practice. At the present time the rental payable under leases of settlement land is fixed on a basin of -1} per cent, of the capital value. It is propsod to increase this rate to 5 per (cut. A similar increase is made with respect to the rates of interest payable in respect of unpaid purchase money, advances etc. At the present time if settlement land is not selected when offered it remains open for selection at the upnet- price or rental for one year, after which the capital value may be reduced. ibis period of one year has been reduced by the Bill to three months. In certain eases the .Minister has power to remit rent in eases of hardship, hut the amount remitted has iir.st to be appropriated from the Consolidated fund and credited to the Land tor Settlement Account. it is proposed to dispense with the necessity of prior appropriation.