CROWN LANDS BOARDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1037, 31 August 1911, Page 4

CROWN LANDS BOARDS.

DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE. When the Land Act Amendment Bill was reported to the House by the Land Committee last week, Mr Newman, its author, said the object of the Bill was to increase the number of elected members of Lands Boards, and he earnestly expressed the hope that the Government would take up the Bill on account of the enormous areas which they represented. He also urged that the term of office should be Increased to three years, and that the districts should be divided into wards.

Mr Jennings took a similar view, on the ground that under the present conditions many of the settlers do not get sufficient representation.

The Acting-Minister of Lands, (Hon. D. Buddo), said he had never heard any demand from the Crown tenants for further representation. In fact, only about one third of them recorded their votes at the election ot a member. Mr Guthrie said the reason tor the introduction of the Bill was that the land districts are of such a size that it is impossible for one man to bring before the Board the requirements of the Crown tenants over the whole of his district. Mr G. W. Russell declared that, as at present constituted, Land Boards are merely the vehicles for registering the decisions come to by the Departmental officers, but if they desired to have members of Boards with local knowledge of requirements they must either increase the numbers of members or the numbers of Boards.

After further discussion, Mr Newman intimated that be did not intend to proceed further with the Bill.