A LAND BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1932, Page 2

A LAND BILL

PROPOSED,. RECLAMATION WORKS' ■■ y; | - ... WELLINGTON,. May. 4. linpod'bant ijKllment's to the land laws of New Zealand 'are contained in amending legislation introduced in the House by Gov .'rnor-General’s message to-nighv. Apart from giving .relief to certain. ' Classes of existing settlers, the measure is designed further to assist settlement in the Domin- | ion and absorb a larger number of unemployed. Authority is contained for the setting apart of areas of tidal lands or for eh, sore or land's below low water marie, where there is not sufficient water for navigation, for purposes of reclamation, aud for declaration of 'such areas a!: Grown lands. The reclamation works proposed will be carried out under the supervision of the Public "Works Department, principally as an unemployed relief and land settlement 'scheme. A considerable number of areas in the harbours of Hokianga, j Whangarei and Whangaroa already have been inspected and found suitable for .the purpose. It is provided that any land owner, whether Native or European, whose title may extend below high-wat:.r mark as adopted for the purposes of the Bill, will be entitled to claim compensation for land or injury caused by the carrying out of reclamation works. Provision is 1 also made for settlement by Natives of reclaimed areas, this being necessary I to meet spe In l case's where reclamation? front Native occupied land. Another clause authorises the granting of ad van r on purchase morov. The advances will lie secured by lirst mortgage whore tin 1 Land Purchase Board recommends this procedure. In , the case of undeveloped lands so acquired the Development Board may make advances for improvements am? for live ©took in the same manner as if the area were undeveloped settlement land. •

POSTPONED RENTS. A 'machinery amendment seeks to enable . .severancesf of Crown leaseholds to he dealt with, in a similar manner to severances of private lauds and time and'.'expense to be saved. In making necessary adjustment*’ ’C-ri certain revaluations of land© the amount of any postponed rent added to the original capital value ha,s to be added to the reduced capital value, as .determined m respect of revaluation, Owing , to the

mandatory effect of this provision it I has been found impossible to make | Satisfactory (revaluation adjustments, especially where; postponed rents have been capitalised in boom periods. The Bill, therefore, contains a provision re- ' moving the necessity for adding capitalised rent to the reduced capital value in cases where circumstances render such. course inequitable. Provision is also made for the writing off of the whole or part of such postponed rent. 1 FLAX LANDS. i ! Another clause enables relief to be granted to' lessees of flax lands in cases of hardship. This will be by remission or postponement of rent or royalties for any term not exceeding five years in the aggregate. With the object of placing lessees ro a more favourable, position for obtaining accommodation in respect to flax culture operations it is proposed to grant flax leases for any term not exceeding thirty-three years, with or without right of renewal for a ime term. At present the limit is twentyone years. A further provision enables flax leases, which reserve to the Crown reversionary interest in all improvements effected by a lessee, to be exchanged for new leases which will fully protect the lessee for all improvements done or paid for by him. Authority is given also for the, establishment of fire breaks-on peat formations where flax is grown.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. The power's of the Land Development Board to assist financially occupiers of Crown settlement lands aro extended to enable advances to be made for the purchase of livestock ns well as for the development of the land. An alteration is made to the law concerning the fixation of' rents reserved by renewable leases of Crown lands to enable the rent of developed land to bo fixed at 5 per cent, in all cases. At present the figure is 4 per cent. The reason for the change is stated to be the desire to avoid loss, seeing that moneys utilised for development purposes cost about 5J per ■c^nt.

“HALVES’* AND “FIFTHS.” In connection with the payment ro local bodies of “halves” and “fifth:;” of royalties’ received from timber or flax cut on Grown lands and State forests, a clause is inserted to ensure that an oqui table portion is paid to any local body through whose teirttory the products are transported.

( As numerous applications are being received from lessees of domains and public reserves for relief by way of reduction or remission of rents, provision is incorporated for meeting cases of hardship resulting from the, depression.