CONTENTIOUS CLAUSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1941, Page 4

CONTENTIOUS CLAUSE

STRUCK OUT OF RIVERS BILL BY HOUSE COMMITTEE. CONSTITUTION OF COUNCIL ALTERED. ißv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The most contentious clause in the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Bill, one which empowered the Commissioner of Crown Lands in certain circumstances to require a Crown lessee to observe restrictions on the stocking, clearing or managing of a rural holding, under pain of losing his lease, has been struck out by the Rivers Control Committee of the House. The committee reported back to' the House yesterday, with the recommendation that the Bill, ill its amended form, should be allowed to proceed. The committee has made a substantial number of other amendments to the Bill, mostly minor. There is. however, an alteration in the constitution of the Soil Conservation Council. Under the amended Bill it is to consist of the engineer-in-chief of thd Public Works Department, another officer of the department, the Undersecretary of Lands, two persons appointed on the recommendation of the Minister to represent local authorities, river, land, drainage and catchment boards, and one person similarly recommended to represent agricultural and pastoral interests. The term of office of members has been fixed at five years. A new sub-clause provides that any person who has an interest in land taken by the council or suffering any damage in connection with the council’s powers to .maintain or improve waterways, shall be entitled to full compensation from the Minister. All regulations made under the Bill are to be laid before both Houses of Parliament within 14 days if the Houses are in session, and if not-within 14 days of the beginning of the next session.