I.—sa

10

The Hon. Mr. McNab moved the following new clause: — " 10a. In sections eleven to fifteen, if not inconsistent with the context, — , ' Owner ' includes the person who, whether alone or with any other person or persons, is the owner of rural lands (whether mortgaged or otherwise charged or not) in fee-simple, but does not include— In sections eleven to fifteen, if not iconsistent with the context, — " (i.) A trustee as regards lands held for persons other than himself where neither his own total beneficial holding nor that of any of the beneficiaries (whether in each case held alone or with any other person or persons) exceeds the prescribed maximum value; " (ii.) A person now entitled under any now existing instrument to land his beneficial estate in which is not now, or shall not within ten years after the coming into operation of this Act, become absolutely vested; " (iii.) A person who shall, within the said ten years, become entitled under the will of any testator now deceased or any other now existing instrument to land his beneficial estate in which shall not become absolutely vested within the said ten years; " (iv.) A person or Corporation holding for public, local government, educational, or charitable or relfgious purposes; " (v.) The Public Trustee; " (vi.) The Official Assignee: " ' Fee-simple ' includes several interests equal in the aggregate to a fee-simple. " ' Gift ' does not include a devise or bequest under a will: " ' Lessee ' includes tenant" but is to be read subject to the exceptions made in the definition of ' owner ' : " ' Rural land ' means land situated anywhere, save in a city or borough." Subsections (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) read and agreed to. The remaining portion read and agreed to. The Hon. Mr. McNab moved the insertion of the following new clause :— " 11a. (1.) Any person named in the provisional roll may apply by motion to the Supreme Court, alleging that his holding has been reduced to the prescribed maximum value; and the Court, on being satisfied that the allegation is true, shall order the removal of the applicant's name from such roll. "(2.) It shall be the duty of the Valuer-General to give effect to every such order. " (3.) Notice of every such removal shall be gazetted forthwith." Agreed to. The Hon. Mr. McNab moved the insertion of the following new clause: — " 11b. Every instrument of conveyance or lease by a person whose name is on the provisional list or on the provisional roll, as the case may be, shall have subscribed thereto or indorsed thereon a declaration by him that he has no beneficial interest under the instrument, and that no agreement or arrangement has been made under which he is to have any beneficial interest in the land con veyed or leased. " Provided always that nothing in this subsection shall prevent such person from taking a mortgage for not exceeding two-thirds of the purchase-money upon a sale by him; but it shall not be lawful for such person, or for any person in trust for him or on his behalf, to become, under or by virtue of any such mortgage, the purchaser of the mortgaged land or any part thereof, whether under a sale by direction of the Registrar of the Supreme Court or otherwise, or to become, under or by virtue of such mortgage, the lessee (otherwise than in the capacity of mortgagee) of such land or any part thereof." Agreed to. The Hon. Mr. McNab moved the insertion of the following new clause: — "lie. (1.) Where a person named in the provisional list or the provisional roll dies, and under his will or intestacy any person becomes the owner or lessee or rural land the unimproved value of the unincumbered fee-simple whereof ascertained as aforesaid as on the date of his so becoming such owner or lessee exceeds fifty thousand pounds, every such person shall be entered by the Valuer-General on the provisional list, or, if the same lias become the provisional roll, then, upon the provisional roll, in respect of such land. " (2.) Such entry shall be gazetted, and shall be registered against the title to the land, and all the provisions of this Act relating to persons and properties entered upon the provisional list or the provisional roll shall apply to the case." Agreed to. The Hon. Mr. McNab moved the addition of the following new clause: — " 17. (1.) .Small grazing-runs shall be disposed of under Part V of the principal Act, and not otherwise. " (2.) Pastoral lands and pastoral agricultural lands shall be disposed of under Part VI of the principal Act, and not otherwise." Agreed to. The Committee then adjourned.

Wednesday, 3rd October, 1906. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m. pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. "McNab, Messrs. Bennet, Duncan, Ell, Flatman, Fraser, Greenslade, Hall, Laurenson, Lawry, Malcolm, Mills, and Witty. Mr. Martin, solicitor, was also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.