THE LAND QUESTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8514, 20 August 1907, Page 7

THE LAND QUESTION.

"Freehold for nothing" is a strong term to apply, but that is practically the effect of an amendment to the Government land proposals, notice of which has been given by the Hon. T. Y. Duncan, ex-Minister for Lands. To put it briefly, Mr Duncan will move in Committee on the Bill, that, subject to the approval of the Minister, the Land Btnrds may set aside areas of rural land and declare same available for seleciicn and occupation without payment. "Public notice is to be given of all land so set forth, and the area to be selected by each person of IS years and upwards shall not exceed 200 acres, and for persons under 18 years 50 acres. The totai area to be selected by any one family shall not exceed 500 acres. Residence is to be compulsory from a stated da'-e—in the case of bush lands within one year and in the case of open lands within six months from date of selection—and continuous thereafter for a period of seven years. A dwelling house is to be erected on the land within 18 months, and certain stipulations are made regarding the area to be cultivated each year. These are conditions of extraordinary liberality, but Mr Duncan would give away the property of the State beyond recall, for sub-clause 6 provides:—"lf the conditions mentioned. . . . are duly observed a grant shall at the expiration of the said period of seven years be issued for the land selected."—Post.