THE LAUD COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7806, 26 April 1905, Page 2

THE LAUD COMMISSION.

* (Per I'ress Association.) chhistciu:hch, Aju-n -25, The l.iiml Commission resumed work this morning after the F-aster vacation. Further evidence was tuk"en at Chrirtchurch, and a number of witnesios were examined during the day. The otiiecr in charge of the Chiistohurch Advancis to Settlers Olllce, stated there was no unnecessary delay in grafting loans to applicant!*. The oflicc h'Al IT2 mortgages- over lands in Canterbury totalling £10,71(1 Mr Wilfred sheep furn er ul (llenroy, mid a member of the cvfetiUvc of the North Canterbury Farmers' I'nion, statiii the lis- in land values was not due to t'-C unearned increinentl. cuusi'd liy population, but to industrial prioress. It would Ik- a wise itolicy for tlnstate to n-11 as much Crown luml us possible at. present price', for everything pointed t (1 the fart that the pri-sy-n,l pritH'vvwukt not he muintailed. Hu did not think that tint State-owned lands were better than those rented from a private individual, jor the latter was 'legally bound by a grunt, lnit the State could at any time break it. Crown tenants should lib given the option of acquiring the freehold «t the original valuation. Hetttemenl could Ik-k>. lie effected by granting the freehold. Mr Henry WlKiuiusi, Crown land ranger, stutcd thut taunts he bad spoken to hud laughed at tlie notion 'that they wore afraid to come before the and give . evidence in favour of the freehold. | The majority of the tenants wore sj- | tisfied with tho existing conditions. > Mr voured the Icase-in-nerpetuitv, and objected to the large deposit* r« quicad before an upplicanl obuld so to. the ballot. F .%■ The reJWMEligujra