THE LAND BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 27 August 1907, Page 4

THE LAND BILL.

Amended by the Lands Committee. The amended Land Bill as it leaves the Lands Committee was laid on the table of the House of Representatives on Friday. In regard to ordinary Crown lauds, a modification has been made enabling holders of renewable leases, with the consent of the board, to remove minerals other than gold, silver and coal from their holdings on payment of royalties. The renewable lease no longer applies to land leased under modified residence conditions, and the Government are left free to make regulations respecting leases of this land.

An important new clause provides that a holder of a renewable lease, when he desires to make improvements, shall be entitled, on application to the Commissioner, to have particulars of improvements placed on a permanent record, the record to be used in assessing compensation. Provision is made for special flax leases of an area not to exceed 2000 acres.

The limit of area to be acquired by applicants for Crown land is extended from 3000 to 5000 acres.

The clause of which the Hon. T. Y. Duncan has already given notice, empowering boards to set apart, areas of rural land for seleclection and occupation without payment, subject to conditions as to cultivation and residence, is embodied in the bill. In regard to land for settlements lands, the 33 years lease with perpetual right of renewal remains unaltered. The clause providing for the lease of land for settlements lands by public tender instead of by ballott, is struck out. In substitution, there is a new clause to the effect that before any land acquired under that Act is opened to public selection, the Board may grant a renewal lease without competition to any person who has been employed on the land by the late owner for at least five-years. The old system of ballot therefore is to remain in force. Land may still be taken compulsorily at the owner’s valuation plus a percentage. The right to purchase the freehold is confined to holders of bases in perpetuity of Crown lands, as in the bill when introduced this session. In regard to the compulsory purchase of land under the Lands for Settlements Act, the price is to be the valuation plus 10 per cent, of the value to ,£50,000, and 5 per cent, of any amount over ,£50,000. This alteration is in favour of owners, as the original bill .provided for adding 10 per cent, to values below £25,000, 5 per cent, to values from £‘25,000 to £50,000, and 2% per cent, to values above £50,000.