A LAND TRANSFER

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1929, Page 2

A LAND TRANSFER

THE APPLICATION REFUSED WESTLAND LAND BOARD f| ' DECISION. At the meeting of the Westland Land Board held yesterday afternoon the adjourned application in the estate of the late John Mcßride for the transfer of a pastoral license over a run of 1050 acres at Jackson River again came up for hearing. At last meeting after discussion, the application had been adjourned to enable a full Board to deal with the matter. Yesterday an objector Mr Duggan, for whom Mr El cock appeared put in a formal objection on the grounds that the granting would mean an aggregation of land, it being held, the Nolan family already had too much land.

Mr Kitchingham for applicant held that the two applicants, Mesdames .Nolan, were qualified to bold the land and that the Board had no option but to grant the transfer. Mr Elcock stated the Nolans had 58,939 acres of land in occupation and in addition used a run of 45,650 acres held by L. Johansen. Their stock included at least. 1,500 cattle, 600 sheep and 80 horses. Mr Morpeth said the the outstanding need of the district was more settlers and more settlement. He was not disposed to give his sanction to the transfer. The district needs more settlers. Nolans hold a very extensive area. He would oppose the transfer being granted.

Mr Ward said he was sorry to have to disagree with the Chairman. In his opinion the occasion of this application was not an ordinary one. The area had been put up to auction and the highest bidder had secured it. He did not deny that the Nolans were large landowners. Duggan was overbid. He did not agree that the land wants more settlers. The conditions for more settlers are not there at present. The position of the land is in the bacjcblpeks, absolutely. Nolans belonged to an old family of pioneers and were absolutely entiled to hold the land they did. There can be no monopoly in a place like Okuru. In any event if required it can lie cut up by the Government. He moved that the application oe granted. There was no seconder.

Mr Morpeth said lie had a great admiration for the two Nolans, but the time bad come when the Board should make it clear that the Nolans had sufficient land.

Mr Clayton agreed that the time had arrived when the Board should take a stand in regard to further aggregation. Nolans had sufficient land, and he would vote against the transfer.

Mr Gibb said he had not much to say more than had been said by other mernliers. lie had come to the Board

up against land aggregation and lie would move that the application for a transfer be refused.

Mr Clayton seconded the motion. Mr Ryall asked the Chairman what action it was proposed to take to a following application by Nolans for renewal of lease of a run. The Chairman said this was in a totally different position. On that area Nolans had done a large amount of clearing, and spent a large sum, and he had been moving to enable a proper title to be secured for them, which they were fully entitled to. This was for land at the Cascade. The motion of Mr Gibb, refusing the application for a transfer was then put and carried, Mr "W ard dissenting.