THE LAND BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8553, 11 October 1907, Page 5

THE LAND BILL.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Correspondent). WELLINGTON, October 10. In the House, this afternoon, the Land Bill was resumed in Committee at section 15, relating to mineral licenses, and the discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 o'clock adjournment. 1 In the House, in the evening, the clause, after much discussion, was passed. Clause 17 ("provisions as to leases-in-perpetuity to apply to renewable leases") and clause 18 ("owners of lease-in-perpetuity may obtain a renewable lease in lieu thereof") were passed unamended. At clause 19 ("owner of lease-in-per-petuity may purchase the fee simple"), Mr W. P. Massey moved; an amendment to give a lessee-in-per-petuity the right to acquire the freehold if he has fulfilled the conditions, of improvement and residence, if heis not the owner of land sufficient to disqualify him under section 96 of the principal Act, and if he pays the capital value upon which the rental of 4 per cent, per annum Is computed, and an additional sum of one per cent, upon the capital value; also that a lessee may pay off the capital value in instalments of not less than one-tenth. Mr Massey stated that the amendment was intended to enable a lessee to be placed in the same position as the man who took up land on the O.R.P. tenure. The Premier objected to the proposal, which involved retrospective legislation of a wholesale character. No private landlord would adopt such a course as proposed by Mr Massey. The discussion on the clause is likely to continue throughout the sitting.