THE LAND BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8862, 23 October 1907, Page 4

THE LAND BILL.

*—- — After a fortnight's tribulation in Committee of the House of Representatives, the Minister of Lands succeeded in getting his Land Laws Amendment Bill through its final stages at an early hour on Saturday morning without material amendme.it, except such new clauses as were moved or approved by himself. He had "a hard row to hoc" when he introduced the measure, but by adopting methods which are better understood inside than outside of Parliament, he managed to get through the work to his entire satisfaction. The Bill as it now stands abolishes the eternal lease, substitutes 66 years' renewable leas? for Crown lands, and 33 years' renewable lease for settlement lands; it grants the option of the freehold at present valuation to lease-in-perpetuity holders on ordinary Crown lands, and provides for conversion to those who complain of excessive rentals. It gives preference to the landless, makes provision for dealing with flax country, and contains many provisions of minor importance. The Minister claims that the principles of his original Bill are unaltered, but that is his version of the case. There will not be wanting many to hold that the principles of the original measure have been sacrificed in various ways for party purposes.