The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1932. SMALL FARM'S BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1932. SMALL FARM'S BILL.

One of the Billii" introduced in the closing hours of the session on Friday last wan the Small Farms (Relief of (Jneinpioyuio.it) Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to make' provision for toe .settlement; of approved persons oil small areas of Crown lands set a-side for the purpose, and on other lands that are not being utilised to their full extent. Under the scheme it is hoped to mitigate distress resulting from unemployment. Power is given to the Governor-General to appoint a Minister of the Ciown who will administer the Bill. It is also proposed to set up a Board consisting of not fewer than three and not more than fine members to be appointed by the Governor-General, and to hold office during his pleasure. Although the Bill is not specific- on the point, it is evidently proposed that certain heads of Departmentswill be included in the personnel of tho Board, for it is provided that’ in the absence of the permanent head he may appoint a n office) of his Department to attend meetings of the Board in his stead. For the purpose of assisting iji the administration of the scheme, the Board may appoint local committees comprising not more than three members, with the Comma,-,s loner of Crown Lands as chairman. The Board shall endeavour to promote the settlement of approved persons on areas of suitable Crown lands where, in the opinion of the, Board, sufficient areas of unoccupied Grown lands are not available. 11 may arrange for the acquisition by the Grown by* way of purchase or lease with the right of purchase of suitable areas of private land, or for the resumption of suitable areas of Crown lands held under lease or license. All lands required or resumed in that manner are to be disposed of by way of lease with the right of purchase to approved persons. Only the following classes of persons shall be qualified to receive leases of land under this provision:—(a) Persons registered as unemployed, (b) Persons with respect to whom the Board is satisfied l that their settlement on the land would tend to reduce unemployment’and Who, in the Board’s opinion are suitable for employment in rural occupations. Every lease granted under tins provision shall be for a term not exceeding ten years and: shall confer on the lessee a right to he exercised during the currency of the lease to acquire the fee simple of the land at any time after the expiration of four years from the commencement of the term. In lieu of arranging for the acquisition of the lard by the Crown, the Board may, with the appproval of the Minister, arrange for the lease of the land to he granted direct to an approved person by, the owner or any other person having authority to. grant such lease, which shall he subject to the same conditions, including the right to acquire the fee simple, as if the land had been acquired by the Crown for that purpose. If for any reason an owner refuses to execute any lease it may be executed by the direction of the Board by the Commissioner of Crown Lands on V half of the owner. After four years from the commencement of the lease, but not later than six months after its expiration, the land comprising the lease may be acquired by the Crown on the same terms as those on which the lessee could have acquired it, provided the lessee has not already exercised his right to acquire the fee simple. Before .any land is disposed of by way of lease under the provisions of the Bill the Board shall have' a valuation made of the land, showing its unimproved value at the date of the proposed lease, and the value of any improvements. These valuations may be fixed by agreement between the owner and other prospective lessor and the Board, and in default of agreement shall be determined by the Board. The annual rent payable under leases granted under this scheme shall be fixed by the Board, and shall not in any case be less than 5 per cent, of the unimproved value of the land at the date of lease, or less than per cent, of the capital value of the land. The capital value shall be deemed to be the sum of the unimproved value and the value of the improvements. The rent' payable during the first four years of the lea’-e shall in the case of default by the lessee be paid out of the Unemployment Fund. The price at which the lessee may acquire the fee simple of any lands disposed of by way of lease shall be determined in a-coordlanc.' with the regulations, but shall 1 not bo less in any case in fl aggregate than the following amounts: —(a) The unimproved value of the land at the date of acquisition of the free simple, and (It) the value of the lessor’s interest in the improvements at the date of the lease.. An important section, of the Bill provides for the disposal otf land that is not being .adequately used. For the mirpose of giving full effect to the intention of tlc> Bill, power is given for the making of regulations. Expenditure authorised under the Unemployment Amendment Act passed

earlier in the year may be applied under this Bill. Powers of inspection as conferred by the existing law with respect- of lands disposed of by the Crown' are also given under the Bill.