STATE-MADE FARMERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2222, 2 July 1891, Page 4

STATE-MADE FARMERS.

Mr Jesse Ceilings’ Small Holdings Bill, a measure which may be described as one for setting men up in business in farming with the aid of national funds and at the risk of the ratepayers, was read a second time in the House of Commons the other day. The principle of lending State funds to farmers is not unknown in New Zealand; but in England (says the “ N.Z. Herald ” correspondent) it is quite an innovation, and the second reading of the Bill without a division is attributed to the desire of both parties to please the farm laborers and 1 other rural voters in view of the coming general election, which is not likely to be delayed very long. The principal provisions of the Bill are summarised as follows :•

It proposes to empower any district council which may be established hereafter, and in the meantime any urban or rural sanitary authority, to acquire land and to sell small holdings, of one ; acre to fifty acres on certain terms. ' The purchase money is to be a net sum, including cost of conveyance and transfer, the title being guaranteed to the purchaser. One-fourth of the purchase money is to be paid on the completion of the transaction, and on the remaining three-fourths, which will always remain unpaid, the purchaser is to pay interest at the rate of 1 per cent, above the interest paid by the local authority to the Treasury at the date of the advance. The unpaid balance, with all interest thereon, is to be a first charge upon the holding. The local authority is to be entitled to repurchase a small holding at any time for purposes of public improvement or local advantage, on giving a year’s notice to persons interested therein, and paying the value of the land as a small holding, the value of unexhausted improvements thereon, , 10 per cent, for compulsory sale, and a proper allowance for disturbance of I business, and other inconveniences and expense to the sale. Provisions are made for loans from the local authority to owners of small holdings for certain purposes and under specified conditions, such loans to be paid off, with interest, within a period not exceeding thirty-five years; also, for 1 advances of money to enable tenants and other persons to purchase holdings not exceeding 50 acres, but not more than three-fourths of the purchase money. The power of the owner of a small holding acquired under the proposed Act to dispose of it is limited to .a registered mortgage of the entire holding, a registered transfer of the entire interest in it, or devise in favor of one person, and subletting is prohibited. There are separate provisions for enabling a local authority to advance money to tenants of holdings up to 50 acres who desire to purchase them. It is

further proposed that local authorities shall have power to let in small holdings any land owned; rented, or acquired by them, tinder 1 ‘regulations providing against sub-letting' and bad cultivation, and making allowances for unexhausted improvements and acts of husbandryto outgoing tenants, Not more than 10 acres can be let to one person, but one or more holdings of that area may be let to a number of persons working on a co-operative system. The sanction of the local authority is necessary for the erection of any building by the tenant, and only such buildings as are required in connection with the proper cultivation of a holding are to be allowed. Buildings authorised may be taken over, with compensation, by the local authority or the incoming tenant at the conclusion of a tenancy, or the outgoing tenant may pull them down or dispose of them as he deems desirable. Arrangements are proposed for using land as public pastures, charging for agisted stock. Local authorities are

empowered to purchase, sell, hire, or exchange any lands within or without their respective districts; also to make specified improvements upon any land belonging to them. Power is proposed to be given to local authorities to borrow money from the Treasury for the purposes of the proposed Act, and to levy district rates for expenses.