316

extent of his frontage, without payment of any rent, if he is not in the receipt of any profit. In the case of a profitable occupancy I would propose a uniform assessment at the rate of 15 percent upon the profits of the reclaimed ground, according to the valuation in the Police Rate Books. I do not think that the inequality of the rates of the present rental of existing Marine Lots ought to be taken into account in determining the rate of assessment. That rate ought, as I have said, to be a uniform rate. The opinion which I have expressed, and the distinction which I have drawn between profitable and unprofitable occupancy, are founded upon a belief which I entertain that the Marine Lots were originally granted upon a faith or an expectation that, come what would, the holders were to continue to occupy the sea, without their privacy being invaded by other occupants.

Of course, if they built houses themselves there, that right of privacy would be entirely ...doved. I am myself a Marine Lot Holder. I am the original holder of one Marine Lot, and holder of another by assignment. In both instances land has been reclaimed there, and built upon, and the Godowns built upon them are occupied by my tenants. I am aware that the tenure of Crown Lessees of Marine Lots is a precarious one. I spoke to Mr. Bridges, the Acting Attorney-General, about the Resumption Clause. He said that, being Attorney-General he could not say much about it, but that

Share This Page