FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1974
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UNDER THE BILL, KNOWN AS THE LANDS TRIBUNAL BILL 1974, THE TRIBUNAL WOULD HAVE POWERS TO ENFORCE THE ATTENDANCE OF WITNESSES AND EXAMINE THEM ON OATH. IT WOULD ALSO BE EMPOWERED TO COMPEL THE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS AND MAY ENTER AND VIEW ANY PREMISES.
THE DETERMINATION OF THE TRIBUNAL WOULD BE FINAL ALTHOUGH. A DISSATISFIED PARTY MAY APPEAL, ON A POINT OF LAW, TO THE FULL COURT.
IN A SEPARATE PIECE OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION PUBLISHED TODAY, THE NEED TO REFER MATTERS TO THE TRIBUNAL UNDER THE CROWN LANDS RESUMPTION ORDINANCE WOULD ONLY ARISE WHEN BOTH PARTIES FAIL TO AGREE ON THE LEVEL OF COMPENSATION.
AT PRESENT, A COMPENSATION BOARD MUST BE SET UP UNDER THE ORDINANCE EVEN IF THE PARTIES ARE AGREED ON THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, INCORPORATED IN THE CROWN LANDS RESUMPTION CAMENDMENT). BILL 1974, WOULD RESULT IN A CONSIDERABLE STREAMLINING OF PROCEDURES AND WOULD. ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO CONCLUDE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE SURRENDER OF THE LAND EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER ITS SURRENDER DATE, AND SHOULD MAKE FOR A SUBSTANTIAL ACCELERATION IN THE ACQUISITION OF LAND AND PAYMENTS OF COMPENSATION.
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PRICE OF SAND GOES UP BY $4
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THE PRICE OF BUILDING SAND PURCHASED FROM THE GOVERNMENT SAND DEPOTS IS TO BE INCREASED FROM $26 TO $30 A CUBIC YARD. THE NEW PRICE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ALL SAND FOR WHICH PAYMENT IS MADE ON OR AFTER TO-DAY CFRIDAY).
IN ANNOUNCING THE PRICE REVISION, THE GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMED ITS POLICY NOT TO RECOVER MORE THAN THE COST OF BUYING AND SELLING SAND. THE PRESENT INCREASE AS EXPLAINED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, ARISES FROM A HIGHER RATE OF COMPENSATION PAYABLE TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES FOR PURCHASE OF SAND FROM CHINA.
THE EFFECT ON BUILDING COSTS IS ESTIMATED TO REPRESENT AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 0.5 PER CENT DEPENDING ON THE COMPLEXITY OF THE BUILDING.
THE NEW PRICE WILL ALSO APPLY TO ROYALTY PAYMENTS FOR SAND COLLECTED FROM AUTHORISED SITES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SALE AND REMOVAL OF SAND IN SMALL QUANTITIES FOR LOCAL VILLAGE PURPOSES OR COMMUNITY WORKS.
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