The Land Commission.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7808, 28 April 1905, Page 3

The Land Commission.

(Per Press Association.) OHKISTCHURCH, April 27. The Land Commission concluded its isittingsr in Christchurch to-dny, wlicn several important witnesses were examined. Alexander Oacroft Wilson, liegis- ' Itrar of Canterbury College, gave evidence relative to the terms on which J the college endowments were let to tenants. | Arthur C. Pringle, a member of the Canterbury Land Hoard, believ- 1 ed that tenants generally wire- satis- 1 lied with the conditions of their lcase-iu-perpetuity tenure. The freehold. if granted, should lie at the original valuation. i James Stevenson, another member of the Land Hoard, considered that discretionary powers should Ik- given o Land Hoards regarding the cropping regulations. He favoured short leases in place of the S)9!> years' lease. Michael .Mui|rfiy. secretary of the Sheep Breeders' Association, disagreed with the Government crooping conditions'. Farmers should he instructed in improved methods of agriculture. Ho approved of short leases, with the option of purchase. Thomas Humphries, Commissioner of Crown Lands. Canterbury, read a long and exhaustive sTatement dealing with the various points raised by other witnesses, or mentioned in the order of reference, and stated that the optional system had worked well, but no great amount of land had been thrown open on that tenure. Siiici' the Land Settlement Act was passed. -"i estates, comprising 246,000 acres, had been purchased and s-.'ttled on. . A large extent of country had been taken up under the small grazing system Future Crown leases should bo for 21 years, with the right erf renewal upon valuation, if the holding be let again as a ■whole. The present constitution of land Hoards was not likely to be improved upon by having elective Boards. 'Hie present cropping conditions should be retained, but the land Hoards should have discretionary power. Tenants holding .small reas should be allowed to apply for a larger holding. The bona fide , married servant of the owner of an acquired estate should bo \nllowed to select an area up to MO acres. The grouping of allotments should be made in a more general and comprehensive manner than nt present., (•roups should bo balloted for in order, commencing with one containing sections of the least value. ■ The whole of the applicants for a group should ballot for the order of Choice. Jf the freehold were allowed to tenants, the money got therefrom should be devoted to the purchase of thcr estates. It would be impossible ( to acquire in Canterbury other estates to the extent of a quarter of !ip million acres of the character already acquired and settled. If ten|ants were permitted to pay off half .the capital value of their holdings, jby this means the.v would be presented from taking over other scc.tions. J The Commission left for Wcllingilon this evening, and proceeds direct, •to "Auckland. \ v - : __i^l