THE LAND COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7797, 13 April 1905, Page 2

THE LAND COMMISSION.

(Per Press Association.! "*** Th- . ASHWHT*. April IS. 4 Iho Land Commission nut, at A*burton to-day. Th* Urw r ,S J ,' C \ N - 0ri81 "' i»K*»l<*»r * the Longboach Estate, of 10.000 acres, who was strongly in favour of the freehold us offering juorc Inducc:nent to make improvements. Ho was <if opinion as a cltiwn of th* Stale that the perpetual leasehold, M at present, was a bad bargain for. the State. All leaseholds' should to re-valued befon- holders wetv allowed to acquire the freehold. His tatter, the lute Mr John (irigg, had disposed of 17,000 acres in small holdings on \h» deferred payment system, and all the occupiers were doing w«U. TnjSb, Stale could not do this so vstl hT' a prrYutt) holder, who could keep an - eye on the occupiers. H 0 (bought it unwise to alter the cropping amdttions of leaseholds,, which tuads far. tin- bait farming. Pour witnuHMos, an Farmers' Cnion inemliers especially uppoiatad by the I nlon to give evidence, were examia••d. All favoured the freehold, and considered the leaseholder* should bo aflowcd to acquire the freehold, on re-valuatiun, by Instalment*. One of these •witnesxes Bugs-usled that tile .State In future divide all laud acquired into two purls, one part to bo kept liiviolatu an leasehold, and the other to lie disposed ofastcasuhold with periodical re-valuation, and a purchase option or os freehold for cash. Ite-aggregalion by fairly Inrgv holders in the Aihbvrtoa district was uduiitted, but the wtaiesam were unanimous that those holders were only making provision for tla>* future of their sons. la regard to reduced a&ool aUendnodo, it was) stated that the cause lay la tfea county being at present ta a period between two peneratlom 9ia&m came to the county «££