NEW SOUTH WALES' LAND SCANDALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8124, 1 June 1906, Page 2

NEW SOUTH WALES' LAND SCANDALS.

THE COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.

Received 81,6 35 p.m.

Srnjnr, May 81. Tie report of the Land* Commiision has been issued. Jt findi that of tha sums received by Peter Close,'« land »gent, in reipcct of matten then being dealt with by the Miniiter for Landi, Mr Crick accepted one half, bat that no officer of the department received any money from Clortf It ah, reoommends that it it desirable to place the administration of the Landi Department in the hands of a Board of Commiiiionen in order to free it from political influence, and that land agonti should be registered and placed under the control of the Land Appeal Court.

Received 31, 6.42 p.m. The recommendations of the Land Commission report inolnde; that in ! order to eupply the .demand for agri. oultural land, all unnecessary relents should be cancelled; the purchases of private lands should, as far a» praeti. cable, be effected under the Closer Settlement Act, "and every encourage, ment should be given to the anb. division and sale of private estates by owners. The report also recommends the making of experiments with bore water to ascertain the bes| methods of applying it to agriculture, and also the consideration of irrigation, light rail, ways, and the conserving of rater whioh now runs to watte, as aids to closer settlement.

Beceived 31, H.66p,m, . The. Lands' report exonerated tke Government in connection with the purchase of the My.ll Creek property which it considered the State acquired. at a reasonable price, which was not affected by the commission paid by the vendors to agents. There wis alio nothing in the evidence; to. impli. eate Mr Oarruthers in. any of the land transactions,