XN000022-1982-06-18 — Page 6

FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1982

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SANCTIONS AGAINST SQUATTER HUT RACKETEERS

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STRONGER SANCTIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO DEAL WITH RACKETEERS INVOLVED IN ERECTING AND SELLING SQUATTER HUTS, IF A BILL PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY IS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED THAT THE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF CROWN LAND BY SQUATTERS IN RECENT YEARS HAD PRESENTED SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

+MANY HUTS ARE ON HILL SLOPES OR BUILT ON INADEQUATE FOUNDATIONS. AS A RESULT

AS A RESULT, THEY POSE A POTENTIAL THREAT TO LIFE IN THE EVENT OF HEAVY RAINS. THEY ARE ALSO A FIRE RISK,+ HE EXPLAINED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID NEARLY ALL NEW SQUATTER HUTS WERE BUILT BY GANGS AND RACKETEERS, WHO MADE ENORMOUS PROFITS FROM THE IR SALE.

UNDER THE CROWN LAND ORDINANCE, THE EXISTING PENALTY FOR PERSONS APPREHENDED IN THE COURSE OF UNLAWFULLY BUILDING HUTS ON CROWN LAND IS A FINE OF $10 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.

WHILE AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 50 OFFENDERS WERE CHARGED EACH MONTH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THE PENALTIES IMPOSED APPEARED TO HAVE LITTLE OR NO DETERRENT EFFECT.

THE CROWN LAND (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 SEEKS TO INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR OFFENDERS WHO ENGAGE IN, ARRANGE OR DIRECT THE ERECTION OF STRUCTURES FOR SALE. THE PROPOSED NEW PENALTY IS A FINE OF $50 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PROVE THAT AN OFFENDER WAS BUILDING A SQUATTER HUT FOR SALE. TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM, THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A LEGAL PRESUMPTION IN COURT PROCEEDINGS SO AS TO PLACE THE BURDEN OF PROOF ON AN OFFENDER TO SHOW THAT HE WAS NOT BUILDING WITH A VIEW TO SALE.

A FURTHER AMENDMENT IS PROPOSED TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCEDURE FOR PROVING OFFENCES OF UNLAWFUL BUILDING ON CROWN LAND. IN HEARING SUCH CASES, THE COURT HAS TO BE SATISFIED THAT THE LAND INVOLVED IS UNLEASED CROWN LAND AND THAT NO LICENCE, DEED OR MEMORANDUM OF APPROPRIATION HAS BEEN GRANTED AUTHORISING CONSTRUCTION ON THE LAND. THE BILL CONTAINS, THEREFORE, A NEW SECTION TO PROVIDE THAT A COURT SHALL ADMIT IN EVIDENCE A CERTIFICATE SIGNED BY AN ESTATE SURVEYOR AS PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF THE LAND STATUS.

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