THE LAND BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3717, 27 September 1906, Page 3

THE LAND BILL.

It is being freely stated that the Government will abandon the thousand acre limit in the Land Bill in favour of a value limit. This, while it may be slightly more acceptable to a number of people interested, will not however get over tae difficulty in regard to mortgages.

In the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Mr Field gave notice to ask the Minister for Lands, for the information of the public generally, and particularly of persons seeking to acquire Crown or Native laud, many of whom are at present in a state of hopeless uncertainty as to whether the Government will furnish a true definition (if one exists) of firstclass land, and whether the true test is that inferentially laid down by the Land Act, 1892, viz., that first-class land is land the unimproved value of which is £1 per acre or upwards. The Land Bill was further considered by the Lands Committee yesterday, and there is now a fair prospect that next week will see the second reading debate in full swing. It is almost certain that an amendment will be moved, but though this may be very awkward for a number of members who are now understood to be supporting the bill, it is not likely to be carried. The Government should have a majority of about nine on the second reading.