LAND SETTLEMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 101, 20 July 1927, Page 9

LAND SETTLEMENT

NEW PURCHASE BOARD AMENDMENTS TO LAW WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Amendments to the Land for Settlement Act were introduced in the House of by the Governor-General’s message to-night, providing two or three material alterations in the original Act. The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, said that alteration of the Land Purchase Board was proposed. Previously it had been appointed by the GovernorGeneral, but now it is intended that all responsible officers on the board should be members of the Public Service, the provision providing for one representative to be appointed by interested parties having been eliminated. , Another provision gave power to the Government to control the resumption of Crown leasehold land. This would be applicable in cases where leases had fallen in, and the Crown desired to cut up the land. The Minister, on the recommendation of the Land Board, may postpone or remit rent or afford other relief to lessees in cases of hardship, the amounts remitted not to exceed five years’ payments in the aggregate. This provision also refers to relief in cases of hardship of purchasers of settlement land on the system of deferred payment, In order to facilitate the settlement of land which is not likely to be immediately productive, provision may be made for it to be opened for selection by renewable lease. The bill was read the first time and the second time pro forma, and referred to the Lands Committee.