The Land Commission.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7818, 10 May 1905, Page 2

The Land Commission.

(Per Press Association.)

/YVpKL,A.\-l>, May 9. The Land Commission sal at Kawakawa on Monday afternoon. John A. L. Hall, commission agent, and

a member of tho County Council

said all the best land in the district was still held by natives. This -was greatly retarding' settlement. He behoved in the freehold tenure and all the settlers ho hud spoken to preferred freehold titles. It would be beneficial to re-enact- Um Homestead Act in this portion of the colony. The administration of the Land Hoard and the Advances to Settlers Department had been satisfactory. Harry Jllundcll, county engineer, said that the great drawback to tho advancement of tho district was the native land difficulty, and the locking up, of land suitable for settlement as timber and gum reserves. The native traffic on roads was a great hardship in the county. He thought the AustrJans would make good settlers when they understood our land laws, especially on this class of country, which thev were already successfully cultivating for wine-growing,

William H. Ward, representing the local branch of the. Fanners'' Vnion, consisting of twelve members, said all tho members were unanimous in asking for the freehold tenure. People vejiaided the lease-in-perj)etuil.v ns shaky, owing to tin agitation for ro-valuatkiu.

William F. Parsons, formerly a homestead settler at Ruapokapeka, land Richard A. Hall, butcher, or |Kawakawa, behoved in the'freehold.

The Commission then proceeded to Opua, where evidence was given by two witnesses this morning. Henry Lane, holder of a small grazing run from the Government, said he believed tho freehold tenure wus best, and thought Crow.n tenants should bo allowed to purchase their freehold at the original vnlu ation, after ten years' improvement. Crown leaseholds were not saleable in this district, because people fcarpd re-vialuulion. Hjs experience of the Advances to Settlers Department had been satisfactory. Up to within a couple of years- ho had not found the administration of land by tiro Crown satisfactory. It was nil right now. John Press also gave evidence strongly supporting the freehold. The Commission left this rorcnonn for AVhangaroa, where u meeting will be held on arrival.