The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 17, 1905. THE LAND COMMISSION REPORT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7874, 17 July 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, JULY 17, 1905. THE LAND COMMISSION REPORT

To thoM* who have followed 1)t)■ evidence U-ndcrod to the Jy.iml Commis* sion throughout the Colony <t.he report just presented to Parliament will Contain no surprise, nor was it auticipntcd that any fresh mutter would Ik* incorporated in the lengthy document to which the CommisMon- | era have attached their signatures. The two main questions which stand prominently out in the report are thos»? relating to roading n'tM tenure There am references to many minor matters more or less connected with the general subject, but these ore mostly of a local character. An exception is, however, to bt? found in the recommendations* made n& to dealing with the unoccupied native lands on lines which have been ud- » vocated ijy other refrrmers. The recommendation* to modifying residence conditions are s<> sound and I iust. that they should raise no op- j position, but th« suggested nlternMons of the system of ballot will probably raise considerable discussion. The Commissioners take a sunguiu-i view of the aMftlity of -the Advances to Settlers Department in •he future to satisfy applicants promptly, and the prospect of raising the maximum advance to sixty pr cent, shoufd be looked forward-to •viib sat sfartion by boiTowers. The Commissioners certainly were acting

in a broad-minded spirit in urging the removal of all obstacles in- 'the way of temin'B ohrtfrinintf advances by ->n inexpensive nietiVod ; also in Mig* gest.ing a provision for repa> merits of CIO or iUs multiple at specified Mines of tini year. With regard to thf'suggesU»d classification of land suitable f j'c.r dairying and grazing, th.-ro is much lo be urged in its favour, and he siui' -may lie said of the uggrestation of two or |n»rtv small holdings. and the power <»f re-adius(ing boundaries. In deal'ng with the sublet of workmen's homes, tie ('ommiSMon has merely taken the only

view of die .juestion thai is p;»s.sible. !t. has been patent lo even our-- thai ih,* pre.«'nt area is l<>u lai-ge for a working loan l.y cultivate proliUbh nhen lu js following his calling ,o1 J»e best part of ihe day. The fan that the land for these holdings must near lo a city where the price oj land is invariably high loads thu silt ct or wth a heavy burden. Wo have " seen in the .-vise of Spolswood •hat there is ne;:d for an alteration in the system, but whether the land up into eighths of an aenwill be a wise course is doubtful. In emphasising- the dniigvr to the t.ol >ny by tlw* spread of noxious needs, the Commissioners have only done their duty, ami it i.s to be hupnl the C.-nernment will now take more active and elective steps than hithet'lo to rid tie* land. es|K'Oia'ly river beds and unoccupied suctions. of these t"rriil>le enemies to the- settlers. On the f[|iestion of roa'.is.

which the Commissioners divm to b< oquallv important with that of ten(jre (there aiv nmnv settlers who consider the matter of far greater importance than tenure), ihey udd their voices to the widespread appeal for roads, ami emphasise the need for justice to the yottlers to he no longer delayed. It is true they have fresh to say on the subject, but their proposal to abolish Hoad Boards will cause some stir, while their surest ion that residence conditio should not ho enforced until roads* are provided is indisputably sound advice. as also m Lie dictum that roadin# should be antecedent t«» or coincident with selection. The yui'sUoi) of tenure is one "which the Commissioners wvre equally divided,

! the eotifieqiuwe living Unit there mv jmo separate reports on Ihis subject. Taking 2 report first, it. is found ti'aat thow Commas toners ; signing the same are adverse to all lowing leaseholders to obtain tln* J freehold, and th*»y recommend IK;ir pro\ision qnuuld be made for weir.ing to*. U'tiiinls the full valuation for th' ir improvements ; also t/vat in future leases therv should he provision for periodical ViMuilnations. the tenant's interest in his improvement u b< ing sM'ictly conserved. Th: *sc Commissioners Mgning th-? \o. 1 report stale that there ik. ;» general desire for ihe freehold. although there are B.Mhe hj(» would prefer to k«r|» nn with tin* leasehold. 'Pie compromise n«wl.v, all. »u i holders to convert. ;»f4«• r six year?, their ,>o!dings I<> occupai ►•>/) with right of purcha«*\ is the only on*possible, and, if adopted, it "ill in ail probability ue gladly utilised by 'li'- 'a*•«••.*!• portion of lb« iMivseholders who have mliilh'd -their *• »ful i* if mis and ;)re in n position to pay lh- additional one n"i rent. will) compound interest. To ;11Ki\ fears of n-\,dic-tion of rents, the roniinissio|iTs cons"'i«r 'hat it should be settled once and iVr all that contacts nia'do by fhv Stat- will not lv tampered with. There iua\ e\ist i'e t ir on Ihis prdnt, but 'lure i» certainly no danger. Taken }i s ,\ whole the report is somewhat 1 a nje, but it nflVrds a hij»l<* >copc for discussion, a-nd will probably lead to legislation thai will mark }< n ndvutice on the present proens- of Iho colony's' ulYuirs.