Trafficking in Crown Lands.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 42, 23 February 1904, Page 4

Trafficking in Crown Lands.

At the last meeting of the Marltyrough Land.lJoard, the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr C. VV Adams) set his face strongly against wlmt was termed "trailicking" in the Crown lands of the colony. A nun/ber of applications for transfers tame before the board, and (says the Express) in a series of discussions, Mr Adams expressed his opposition to tho practice of transferring the interest of a lessou to another person for a "consideration" in the shape of a sum of money representing considerably more t-han tho actual value of tho improvements edevted by the transferor. In ono case tho " consideration " mentioned was £2OOO, in another £IOO, and in a third £320. In some instances the " goodwill.," U s it was called, (or the margin between the value of improvements and the total " consideration " money), bus been smull ; in other instances it has represented a considerable sum. Tho CoimnifSMioiier expressed the opinion that transactions of this nature were not in accond with the true spirit of the administration of Crown lands. In endorsing them, tho board would be simply lending itself to a policy tji»t tended to cripple incoming Crown regarded the payment of a large sum of consideration money as a form of rack-renting, and said' that if there were any profits to be made out of Crown lands they should not go in that direction. Tho board should protect the interests of tho Crown and those oi the Crown tenants. In one case the majority of the board granted a transfer on condition that the ' consideration" money was reduced from £lB5 to £IOO ; and Mr Header gave notice of motion to move at next meeting that the motion be rescinded. In another case the board refused a transfer in which a large sum of consideration " money was involved in which a deposit" of £IOO Inild l>een paid by the proposed transferee. Air M'Callum, solicitor, t who np|»eared ii» support of the application, intimated that an appeal would lie made to the Supreme Court.