LAND BALLOTS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1929, Page 6

LAND BALLOTS

PREFERENCE RULE. {By Teleg.aph—Per Press Association.) DANNEVIRKE, February I's.

An interesting point regarding preference to applicants in land ballots lias been raised by Mr dames Livingstone, President of Dannevirke branch of the Farmers’ Union, and Government representative on the Hawke’s Hay Land Board. There was a. ballot for the Waimarama block in Napier on Wednesday. Six sections were offered. Preference was given to married men, returned soldiers, and those who had been unsuccessful in two previous ballots.

Mr Livingstone raised the question of whether an applicant who entered the ballot Tor all six sections and was unsuccessful in the first two, was entitled to preferential treatment in regard to the remaining four. The Under-Secretary for Lands ruled that the usual custom lie followed, and that the whole block lie regarded as one ballot.

31 r Livingstone’s contention is that each section should be regarded as a separate ballot, and in this view he is confirmed by legal opinions, which show that there is nothing in the legislation to specify that the whole of the sections in a block ojxMied for selection are to be regarded as a single ballot. Mr Livingstone considers that the present arbitrary preferential system is keeping some of the most promising young farmers of! the land. These young men are penalised lor every, section in their first two ballots in different blocks, although they would make excellent settlers, and their fathers arc frequently in a position to assist in the purchase of stock. That they are not married is not infrequently due to the fact that they cannot obtain suitable land on which to settle.