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in paragraph 32 of the first enclosure is explicitly
to the contrary; and instances could be given in which
building has been undertaken on land held on seventy-
five year non-renewable leases even after enquiry had
elicited that the leases would not be renewed.
4.
The question of these seventy-five year
non-renewable leases was discussed by Sir Geoffry
Northcote in Executive Council prior to his departure
on leave but no argument has been discovered for
granting more favourable renewal terms than those
already approved that would not be equally applicable
to the seventy-five plus seventy-five year leases on
their ultimate expiry. The principal contentions of
the unofficial members of the Council at these
discussions were:-
(1) That the Crown being the ultimate owner of all
land in the Colony should not follow the example of
owners of private leasehold property by
confiscating all improvements on the expiry
of a lease.
(2) That the exaction of a premium on renewal of
a lease at an enhanced rate of Crown rent is
indefensible inasmuch as the improvements
VERK