THE LAND LAWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 20 July 1907, Page 2

THE LAND LAWS.

THREE OPTIONS TO PRESENT! L.I.P. TENANTS. I 'KICNKWAIILK" RUPLACMS L.I.P. IN FLJTL'Ui'I LEASES. PROVISIONS VOL! INVALIDATION'S. (Ily Telegraph). Wellington, July lil. Tlie Liiml lii.l wis presentedthis afternoon. Tin- Jiill deals Willi m.l. onlyCrown lands lint also with Lund for Settlements liunl. Part I contains pj-uvi-sions relating to the former and purl 1 i those concerning the hitler.

Til 10 KL'XKU'ABLIC LKASK. After Hit" passing ol' I In- Act, tin' Renewal) i' Lease takes the place of the p.easelhi-iVrpotnHy. Tin; Renewable Lease is for a term of lili yours, with perpetual right of renewal. ' Thin right is mi extension of last year's provisions rental I per cent per annum.

YALI.'ATIOX OF IMPUOVKMKXTS. Provision is contained in the Bill for lie valuation of improvements at the ml of the successive terms. If the essee does not accept renewal, the 'roivn pays the value of the improve-

XIXJOTY I'Kl! C'HXT L'IIKKIIOLD CLAUS"KS. The leiinut. ill the case of a Renewable Lease or Lcuse-iu-Pcrpctuity, can ]iay up (o !)(! per cent of the capital value of the laud comprised in his lease, when the rent will lie proportionately reduced. When 50 per cent has heen'paid, the tenant, holds the land free of conditions oilier than rent, residence, and liability for the commission of waste. Any amount paid over 50 per cent will be refunded on application. Money paid under these provisions, are paid into the Land for Sell lenient Account, which pays interest to the Consolidated Revenue at the rate of -I per cent, The general provisions of the Lease-jn-Perpetuity apply to the Renewable

Owners of lenses in perpetuity may surrender their leases and obtain renewaide leases. FREEHOLD TO L.f.P. The owner of a Leasc-in-Perpctuity may. purchase the freehold at a price i'(|iinl In (he capital value of the iand at Iho time of purchase. Machinery is set. up for giving efl'eel, to this provision, •ind the value of tilt laud is to be determined by arbitration. On such purchase, the lease naturally determines. LIMITATION OK AURA. 'lho limitation of area provisions apply to lauds purchased under this clause. FREEDOM FROA! RENT. In order (o facilitate settlement, power is given lo llio Hoard, with the consent of the Minister, to provide that for ft number of years, not exceeding ten, no rent shall be payab'c under the Renewable Lease. The provisions following Iho above are largely machinery amendments of a comparatively non-eontentious nature. THIRD-CLASS LAND, fn the classification of. land,-a thirdclass is added, where a tenant is allowed to hold up to 8000 acres. NEW PASTURE LEASH PROVISIONS.

A clause has been introduced whereby the Minister can consent to the holder of a pasturage lease or- license cultivating a portion of his land to grow winter feed for slock, and also for ploughing and laying down grass on an additional area of not exceeding 300(1 acres, and providing for such to reckon as improvements for valuation purposes at the determination of the lease. TIIK MALLOT.

In cases of ballol, the. landless shall have preference over those who have land. The TWiiinl may examine applicants before the ballot, A BAR TO APPLICATIONS.

A successful applicant who has disposed of his land shall bo ineligible for five years after,such disposal.

POWER OF EXECUTORS. Provisions are contained in the Bill making clear the powers of executors on the death of a lessee or i'cersce, so that all Boards may work on a uniform plan, and any uncertainty as to the proceeding which may exist in the minds of the public may lie removed.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT LANDS. - SHORT TERM LEASES. In connection with part 2, which deals with Land for Settlement Lands, such lands are disposed of by way of Renewable Leases. In these cases, however, the term of lease, is :13 years, with perpetual right of renewal as before, the rental of the first lease to be not less than 5 per cent on the capital value. At the end of each term, the new rental is assessed as in the case of a tili years' lease. SALIC BY PI'BLIC TENDER.

Where land for Settlements Lands are disposed of, they will be disposed of by way of public tender to the highest tenderer, subject to the provisions of a minimum rental. Iu the. case of tenderers for' the same amount, the successful one is to be determined by ballot. Regulations are to be drawn up laying down the procedure for ballot.

COMPULSORY PURCHASE PROVISIONS.

In taking land compulsory under the Act, its value is; assessed as on the valuation roll iu force at the time when the requisition is gazetted, provfded that anw increase in value since the date of valuation can lie ascertained and added. There shall be paid as compensation, in addition to the value, the following sums;--lf the property exceeds £50,00(1, 2V, per cent; if under .CJO.OUI) and over L-2.-..000. o per cent; under Ci"),000, 10 per cent. Minor provisions an- inserted to smooth the working of the Act generally.

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT LAND

NINE MIU.IOX ACKES SET ASIDE. I'Olt EDUCATION AM) OLD ACE PENSIONS. (1) This Act may be cited as Ihe National Endowment Act, 11)07. (2) The Crown laud described in the schedule hereto and hereinafter called national endowment land, is hereby set apart as a permanent endowment for tinpurposes of Education and Old Age Pensions. CI) Save so far as expressly provided by this Ac!, no National Endowment laud shall be sold, nor shall any such laud be disposed of by way of occupation with right of purchase under the provisions of the Land Act, 1802.

(41 Save so far as expressly provided by this Act, National Endowment land shall continue to be administered and dcill with in the same manner as other Crown land under flits provh-mns of the Land Act, 1S!)2.

(•>! First, (he gros„ i-rvomio received Iron) National Endowment liitul after tin- 31st tiny of Maveh, 1008, shall bo paid l>y the "Receiver of La ml llovenue into (lie public account to (lie credit of a separate amamt. to bo called 'The National Endowment Account": second, all revenue received from National Endowment land on or before, the said Hist (lav of March, 1008, shall he dealt witll as if ihe Act had not heen passed. (1) (hit of the moneys in the National Endowment Account there shall he paid the cost of ihe administration of the National Endowment land, and also all sums which are now payable hv law out of the revenues so received from that hind to anv local or public authorities.

171 (if dm residue of (lie. moneys in the Yalloni] Kudowmonf Account, sovonIv ncr rciiluni shall in each year bo npnlij'd for (ho purpose of education, mid thirl v per eonlum for (ho pumosos of Old \"c. IVu-fons In manner hereinafter provided.

(R) Firsl. the nionevs so available for the mirnoses „f ..rluoatimi R l, n ll he npidied from lime to lime without further "mrnnrialion than this Aft. in pavment of nil amounts which bv anv Act now in force or hereinafter to be ivissed are ehari'e,! on |)ie Oonsoliilnlod Fund for ■Rdueallounl puri.oses. whether lnVhor. Seoombirv or nronarv. and whether w,|. era I or technical: 5,.,.»„ d. the residue nT Ihn m..nevs so available for the mimeses: of <.,1,„u,i;,,„ ~n,.v „., vnin „i. „f n p „, lp i, elri'-"ps as nre „,.,„|:nned in the b<d oreeerli,,., ■jHhaOeti.Ml. -=l.-11 V T,„! r l f,.„„, (hueto (im« as Ihe Colonic Treiroi-nr 'i'r»»s. and vilhoul further a.uu-om-ia-■lion llvmi tills Act. tO f'h" 1?,].,™) m™ I Hoard for educational purposes in accordance, with ituv, and in aid of annual'

'Appropriations made to the said Boards; third, an account ahull be taken periodiIcally, at such intervals being not less than one year, as the Colonial Treasurer .directs, showing the amount of all moneys so received by each Education Board land tin! amount so received by each Board shall thereupon be deducted from Ithe total sum payable to that Board by virtue of any annual appropriation.

(ft) The moneys so available for the purposes of Old Ago Tensions shall from Lime to time he without further appreciation tlmn thia Act, lie ymid by the 'ohmiil Treasurer into the Tost OtKcc \ccoiint, ami slmll he then applied in lie payment of the Old Age Pensions. (10) Notwithstanding anything in this M contained, it shall lie lawful for any lortion of the National Endowment land o lie set apart ns a reserve for any iiirpose under the authority of any Aid, n like manner ns if this Aet had not teen passed. (11) First, notwithstanding nnything u this Act contained, it shall he lawful or the Land Hoard of the district in I'lii'h the National Endowment land is Ituatert, to sell, with Hie consent of the Minister of Lands, and in such manner mil on such terms as the said Land ioard and the said 'Minister think fit, ny portion of such land not exceeding ive acres in any once case, as a site for ury building to he erected for any durational, religious, charitable, or inblic purpose, in the opinion of the said .and Boar<l and the said Minister, renders such a scale expedient in the aihlic interests; second, the purchase noney of land so sold shall he paid into he National Endowment Account.

(12) First, it shall be lawful for the Colonial Treasurer, from time to time in accordance with the provisions of sec-

tions 7H to 75 of the. Local Bodies Loans Act, 1901, to issue and apply such mints of money, not exceeding in any one year the sum of £50,000, as are appriatcd by Parliament for the purpose of the formation of roads or bridges for facilitating the settlement of any such land; second, the said sums shall be in addition to, and not in substitution fr, the sums authorised to be expended by section 73 of the Local Bodies Loans Act, 1001.

The following schedule shows the district areas of flip. National Endowment land:—Auckland, 000,000 acres; Hawke's Bav 135,00ftj Tarnnaki, 00,000; Wellington. 00,000; Nelson, 1,350,000; Marlborough, 450,000; Westland, 1,035,000; Canterbury, 1,800.000; Otago. 2,250,000; Southland, 000,000; total, 9,000,000.

A LABOR PROTEST. Per Press Association. Duncdin, July 10. The Trades and Labor Council warvily criticised the attitude of the Oovciiilnonl regarding the Laud Bill, and paused a resolution of strong disapproval; also with the methods adopted by the Premier and Minister of Labor on '.>") question of State socialism.