a-14

1919 NEW ZEALAND.

SMALL-GRAZING-RUN LEASES HELD UNDER THE LAND ACT, 1892.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

STATEMENT AS TO LEGISLATION AFFECTING LEASES OF SMALL GRAZING-RUNS ISSUED UNDER THE LAND ACT, 1892. I. Undeu Land Aot, 1892. (a.) General. Under section 172 et seq. of the Land Act, 1892, pastoral lands were set aside as small grazing-runs in areas not exceeding 5,000 acres if first-class runs, or 20,000 acres if second-class runs, and leased for terms of twenty-one years, with right of renewal or valuation for improvements.. Section 174 provided that no person could hold more than one run, and section 176 provided that a lease entitled the lessee to the exclusive right of pasturage over the land included in the lease and to all crops on such land. Section 177 set out the conditions of lease, which did not confer any right of purchase, but gave the lessee power to select a homestead-site; whilst it was provided,that roads and rights-of-way were to remain open to the public, and the lands were to be subject to the mining laws. Section 178 provided for compulsory residence, and section 179 for the effecting of certain improvements. Section 180 prescribed the payment of rent on certain conditions, and section 181 empowered the lessee to subdivide the laud amongst his family under certain conditions. (b.) Renewals of Leases. Section 182 provided that on the expiry or other determination of the lease a new lease was to be offered to the existing lessee at a rent to be ascertained as under : — (a.) A valuation was to be made, by an appraiser to be appointed by the Laud Board, of the value of the fee-simple of the land, and a valuation of the permanent improvements thereon. (?,.) After the publication (if such valuation the lessee was to elect .whether he would accept a fresh lease for a further term of twenty-one years at a rental equal to not less than %\ per cent. of the value of the fee-simple as fixed, less the value of improvements by the said valuation, the new lease to be subject to the conditions of the old lease except as regards amount of rent payable thereunder. If the lessee did not agree to the aforesaid valuations the rent was to be determined by arbitration. Section 183 provided that if the lessee did not accept a renewal as above, or failed to execute a new lease of said lands, the lease was to be offered by auction for a further term of twenty-one years, and conditions were prescribed as to the procedure in case of the disposal or non-disposal of the land at auction. Section 184 provided that due notice be given to the lessee of the sale, and section 185-pro-vided that if the lease was not sold the lessee was to remain in occupation, whilst section 186--stated that the Crown and the Land Board were not liable for the value of improvements. 11. Alterations by Subsequent Legislation. (a.) General. Section 52 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1907, amended section 174 of the Land Act,. 1892, and enabled more than one run to be held by one person if the Land Board recommended it and the Minister approved ; and section 3, subsection (7), of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1893, rectified a verbal error in section 182.