THE LAND BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81845, 12 September 1906, Page 3

THE LAND BILL.

SYNOPSIS OF THE MEASURE. \\> are indebted to the Premier for the following telegraphed synopsis of the Land Bill, which was introduced the House last nigh.t The Land Act Amendment Bill, which has been brought down by the Government, rovers about eleven pages of closely printed matter. It is entitled "An Act to amend the law relating to the disposition of Crown lands, and also to limit the aggregation of private estates in land." NATIONAL ENDOWMENT.

The first portion of it deals with national endowment for educational and other purpesos. Section 3re serves all the Crown lands unsold or unselectcd on the coming into operation of the Act, with the exception of lands required under the Lands for Settlement Act.

ENDOWMENTS AND RESERVES For all purposes of administration, the National Endowment remains as Crown land, but the proceeds are to be paid into the National Endowment Account. Out of that account the money is to be distributed for educational purposes, for hospitals and charitable aid purposes, and for oldage pensions, THE RENEWABLE LEASE.

The next portion of the Bill deals with the new sixty six years' lease, which is to be known as "the renewable lease." Provision is made that all lands, except pastoral lands and small grazing runs, are to be disposed of under the renewable lease system. Under this system, the leases are for sixty six years, and the rentals are to be five per cent, if the land is under the Land for Settlement Act, and four per cent, for all the other lands.

The provision in regard to the renewal of leases generally, is that at the end of sixty-six years an appraisement is made of the value of the "and, and the value of the improvements thereon, and of what would be a fair yearly rental. If the tenant is agreeable, he may have the land at the new rental for another period of sixty six years, but if he does not agree to take it, he is to receive payment for his improvements, together with the repayment of any money he may have paid to reduce the capital. Power is reserved under the Bill to retain from his payments moneys to make up for damage to the property. CONVERSION OF EXISTING LEASES.

The holders of Leases in-Perpcmity, Deferred Payment Licenses, or Perpetual Leaseholders may convert into Renewable Leases, in the case of Land for Settlement Lands, at five per cent., and in all other cases at four per cent. L.I.P. CONVERSION TO FREEHOLD.

If a holder of a Lease in-Perpetuity desires to purchase the land, he may surrender, and the property will be put up for auction burdened with improvements. The proceeds of the sale are to be paid into the Lands for Settlement Account, into which account also go all moneys arising from the reduction of the capital. LAND REVENUE. In order to keep the revenue intact, the Lands for Settlement funds will pay interest upon these capital sums to the Consolidated revenue if the land belongs to that account, or to the National Endowment Fund if the land affected is an endowment. PROVISION FOR CAPITALISING Provision is made for paying off, in sums of not less than twenty pounds up to go per cent, of the capital cost, in which case the event will bate proportionately. NON-RESIDENTIAL PROVISIONS. Clause to of the Bill gives power to the Governor to draw up regulations under which people in cities who desire to make homes for themselves in the country may make a commencement. LIMITATION OF PRIVATE ESTATES. Following on, we come to the pro visions dealing with the limitations cf private estates in land. Shortly stated, they arc these:—Within 12 months the Valuer-General is to value the properties of £50,000 and over, unimproved value. They are then to be plaqed on a li:\t dalled "The Excess Estate Provisional List," and gazetted. The right of appeal to the Assessment Court is provided to owners. After appeal, and when the Hat has been settled, it is called "The Excess Estate Provisional Roll.' 1 The provisional roll, when gazetted, is final and conclusive. On the expiration of ten years the Valuer-General compiles and Gazettes a| list called "The Excess Estate Reduction List," consisting of those who, of the former list, at that time still own ,£50,000 worth of unimproved value. This list is gazetted and registered against the title of lands. Whilst such registration continues, no transaction can be put through the Registry. This .last is subject to appeal, and after the appeal is fixed and registered, the former registration becomes cancelled. PROVISION FOR REDUCTION. The provision for reduction to £50,000 is ,is follows:—The Minister is empowered to sell the excess, and give a conveyance to the purchaser. The purchase money derived from the sale is used to pay the cost of the sale, the cost of survey, and the cost of roading, and the balance is to be paid to the Public Trustee to the credit of the owner. TRANSFEREE'S DECLARATION. In connection with mH transfers of land, (lie transferee mu-t make a de claration that lie is not the owner of land which, added to jihat he pro pp,e s to purchase, will exceed a thousand acres of first class land, five thousand of second class, and ten thousand of third-class. CLASSIFICATION OF LAND. The land board will, on being re quired to do so by the owner, classify the lands of any owner. Finally, provision is made for regulations dealing with a number of sub j,ects which crop up in connection with the measure.

LIMITATION OF PRIVATE ESTATES. THE PROPERTIES, AFFECTEQ. Wcllinffton, September u. In the House yesterday afternoon, the Minister for Lands presented the following return of estate's, "Country lands (of an unimproved value of ;£50,000 and upwards), showing area, capital value, and unimproved value: Unim-

25,404 91,690 18,020 13,413 97,nr/) 81,794 26,159 98."33 86,448 36,129 114,603 88,129 12,807 126,063 9°)'45 15,356 106.919 91,861 2tf,59° H 4,427 94,58 i 12,061 117,485 97,445 15,853 112, irji 101,181 30,244 150,831 112,576 49,8/4 143,119 113,486 i 8,656 136.920 115,970 29,887 168,531 118,710 2 3,787 191,706 122,171 75,391 201,106 131,608 29,574 177,597 138,224 26,029 184,690 149,590 29,988 200,318 161,276 35,063 571,07 164,287 24.370 237,115 174,799 218,766 296,090 214,978 101,221 335,405 276,118

Note. —There are a number of owners cf lands of a total unimproved va'ue of .£50,000 and upwards not included in the above list, because the value of their country lands, after deducting town and suburban properties, does not exceed £50,000 unimproved.

pa pit a I proved Area. value. value, acres. & £ 12, I/O j 5.684 61,910 50,169 54,015 50,200 38,839 64,552 62,892 51,610 4i .536 51,64; 9-453 59,0/0 51,675 20,011) 67,822 51,694 (7.594 74,244 52,006 24.5K5 72,824 52,497 36,660 91,562 52,962 28,565 105,056 52,797 J 1,007 n,e/j 73,769 53,044 So, 120 53,745 10,433 64-337 54,351 ij.i 23 67,127 54,860 32,035 «3,479 68-995 56,407 7,<*>4 5V,234 :3,4i3 64.750 57,345 57,07S 31,192 69,234 6,432 74-375 5'% 163 87,260 95,746 85,627 61,030 S5,'02 61,610 18.753 81,673 62,395 0.5OI 74,043 63,930 3 ; 7'3 73,956 64,850 16,234 $5,039 65,359 7,«4& 40.404 80,360 76,520 S3 0,988 90,495 68,959 lS,03<j 90,346 69,903 74,120 70.525 15,960 J 16,312 71,455 12,502 »2,,M7 71,885 10,014 94-075 ■a tin 56,083 87,051 73,221 3^,410 125,423 73,265 13,835 fj4.2i9 74,403 16,620 y2,849 7.5,124 10,875 96,630 >6,$f*) 14,292 101,107 77,784 10,035 ihlty 91,974 78,168 \*h z 07 78,182