THE LAND BILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3867, 23 July 1891, Page 2

THE LAND BILL.

' The following is a summary of the ■ new 1 .and Bill, which we take from a Napier contemporary i—Firstly, al- ' though the choice of systems is still left open, the power is virtually placed with the Minister to override , the decision of the selector and to put land into the market under any of three systems he sees fit; in other words, it is practically reverting to the , Minister the power of determining how the land is to be taken up rather than the public. The second main point is this—Perpetual lease rents are to be i per cent, on the total value instead of 5 per cent, and the term is to be for fifty years instead of thirty years as at present, but without any right to the freehold. Land Boards are to be retained and have absolute power to refuse any application for land. At auction sales of land, the following shall be misdemeanors—(l) Bribing any one to abstain from bidding ; and (2) accepting such a bribe; the former punishable by 12 months' imprisonment or £2OO fine, the second by two years' imprisoment or £SOO fine. Leases and licenses may be granted subject to conditions, and no transfer shall take place until after twelve months possession and the sanction of the Board. If necessary the Board may require the transferer to make statutory declaration. Sundry limitation penalties, etc, are dealt with by clauses 81 to 86, whioh enact that anyone who has forfeited the right to bold land shall be allowed to make a new selection; that no married woman, unless separated or protected, shall become i licensee or lessee save under a will; that land shall not be acquired by any applicant unless for himself. Breaches of any of these conditions shall render a person liable to five years' imprisonment. False declarations shall render the person making them liable to five years' imprisonment. False or evasive statements or action shall entail forfeiture or penalty. As to classification and sale, it is enacted that no town lands shall be sold at less than L2O per acre, no village lands at less than £5 per acre, and no suburban at less than £2. Rural lands may be thus disposed of (a) first-class at 20s ; (b) second-class at sa. Six hundred and forty acres shall b,e the maximum pf first-class rural land tp be auctioned

in one block, and two hundred of second-class. Thirds to be paid for road making. Residence is made compulsory with certain exceptions. Grants are not to be issued for cash until improvements are made. Small grazjng runs of five thousand acres may be proclaimed and auctioned. Leasees shall put permanent improvements year by year, equal in value of each year'B rent. There are special conditions of license as to prevention of gorse and sweet briar, and destruction of rabbits. Babbit proof fences shall be deemed improvements.