LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3358, 26 October 1911, Page 3

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

SOME AMENDMENTS IN THE LAW. (From our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Oct 24. The Laud for Settlements Bill introduced at yesterday’s sitting (after 2 a.m.) is a short measure, proposing some amendments in the existing Act. Section 31 of the Act of 1908, which provided for the compensation to be based upon the valuation for taxing purposes is to be repealed. Clause 7 of the Bill states, in estimating for the purpose of awarding compensation, the value of any land proposed to be taken compulsorily under the principal Act, the Compensation Court shall not take into consideration the fact that the land is to be taken compulsorily, or make any addition to the value by reason of that fact, but shall determine the true and fair value of the land, as at the date of the gazetting of the re-

quisition, in the same manner as it no such compulsory acquisition was contemplated. As part of the system was to be abolished the owner of an estate has the right of increasing the valuation, and this increased valuation is entered on a subsidiary roll, which is used for land tax and death duties, as well as in case of compulsory ■’requisition. The subsidiary rolls will continue in force for the purpose of land tax, both ordinary and graduated, for the current year. Under clause 33 rf the Act of 1908 the Government is bound to take the land after the Court at its instance has fixed the compensation. I It is now proposed in the Bill that not later than one month after the Court lias made the order the Governor may, if, in his absolute discretion, lie thinks fit to do so, declare by proclamation in the “Gazette” that the said land is compulsorily taken under this Act. If a no such proclamation is gazetted witlir a in the month the proceedings will be I deemed to be discontinued, and the I person to whom the Court awarded § compensation may receive costs up to 1 £250. He will not be entitled as at I present to a refund of any loss caused I in connection with the working of the | land,, by reason of the proceedings for compulsory purchase. The Board is to have right of entry upon and inspection of land proposed to he required. No land may be taken compulsorily unless the area is not loss than 2000 acres of first-class land, or its equivalent, and not less than £20,000 unimproved value 1 (the present limitation in the case of first-class land is 10,000 acres). The right of an, owner to retain a portion of the estate may not ho exercised so as to reduce the unimproved value of ' the area proposed to be taken, below £IO,OOO. _ Some little time ago the Prime Minister foreshadowed important legislation that would make radical alteration in regard to the requisition of land for settlements. This, however, is evidently not the Bill then foreshadowed.