The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1932. LAND LAWS AMENDMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1932. LAND LAWS AMENDMENT.

Ix the Land Laws Amendment Bill dealt witn by tne House, last week, sp-cial provision is indue tor the reclamation and settlement of tidal lands. Authority is given for setting apart area* of tidal lands tor foresliortvj or lands below .low water mark wncrc, there is not sufficient water for navigation, for reclamation, purposes. 'jne.se areas' are to be Crown lands subject to the Land Act, 1924. Reclamation works will be carried out under the supervision of the- Public Works Department, principally as- an unemployment relief and land settlement scheme. A further clause provided that on any revaluation of land made under it the amount of any postponed -rent that may have been added to the original capital value should bo added to the reduced capital value as determined in respect to the revaluation, ft was found m many instances that owing to the mandatory effect of tills provision it was impossible to mhke satisfactory adjustments in revaluation, especially where postponed rents had been capitalised in boom periods, It was deemed advisable, therefore, to obtain power by which the necessity for adding capitalised 1 rents to the- reduced capital value might be obviated in cases where circumstances rendered such a course inequitable. Provision was made in the Bill for the writing off of the whole or part of postponed rents. In another clause it was proposed to grant relief to lessees oi flax lands in cases of hardship by remitting or postponing rent or royalties for any term not exceeding five years. Further relief would be given to fiax growers by extending the term for which flax leases could be- granted. At present leases for the growing, cutting and removal of flax could be for any period up. to- 21 years, with right of renewal for a similar term. To place lessees in a more favourable position for securing financial accommodation in respect of flax culture operation it was deemed 1 expedient to obtain power to grant leases for any term up to 33 years, with right for renewal. In addition, power would, be taken to enable flax leases which reserved to the Crown a. reversionary interest in all improvements effected by the lessee to be exchanged for new leases which would fully protect the lessee for all improvements effected' or paid for bv him, lire districts for the protection of peat lands would be established under the Bill. The departmental committee which recently inquired into- the flax industry drew attention to the fact that fire was the greatest risk of the miller and that it was intensified where flax was grown on a peat formation, r | he Department of Lands .and Survey had been put to a great deal of trouble and expense in the past in extinguisning fires on its peat lands, It was therefore considered advisable to establish fire breaks on Crown lands in a manner similar to that adopted for the 'protection of State forests. The Develop men;! Board would be empowered to make advances for the purchase of live, stock to occupiers for undeveloped Crown or settlement land 1 . At present the board eoukl make advances to those occupiers only for the development of their holdings. Tim rent reserved Ivy renewable leases of farm land granted' under the Land Act was fixed at 4 per cent, on capital value, except when land was purchased out of the Native Lands Settlement Account, when it was fixed at 3 tier cent. In the interests of tlie Crown and to avoid loss, having regard to the fact that moneys utilised for development purposes cost about /51. , >er cent,, it was considered expedient to enable the rent reserved uy renewable leases of developed lands *o be fixed at 5 per cent-, in every instance. Provision was made accordingly. Under the present law there was authority for the payment of “halves” nr “fifths” of the royalties receiver! from timber or flax out on Crown lands and State forests to the local authorities within whose districts the , (commodities were, produced. L an amendment in. the Bill there was authority for an equitable proportion of such “halves" or “fifths” to paid to any local authority through whose territory the products might to ti-ansported. The last clause of fho, Bill enabled lessees of nubile reserves and domain-, to he gnmted relief in case's of hardship by wav of remission or reduction 0 f rent. Numerous «!>- p! ion tie ns were being received from these lessees for relief in this direction, and it wa- eon-idered necessary to make legal provision for grantjug it in civ-es where hardship re..allied from (ho depression.