ENG-1953 — Page 73

PRODUCTION

clinics, children's playgrounds, and other public purposes, but Government has carried out an up-to-date survey to facilitate the distribution of available resources to the best possible use.

In addition to the covenant providing for development within a set period, leases also contain clauses controlling the use to which the land shall be put in accordance with planning requirements and providing for the payment of an annual crown rent which is, however, relatively low compared with the economic annual value. Until the lessee has fulfilled the building covenant he is not permitted to sell or mortgage property, but once he has fulfilled this convenant he is free of these particular restrictions, except where land has been sold by private treaty at preferential rates. In this instance, the lessee is required not to dispose of the property and if he ceases to use it for its authorized purpose, it reverts to the Crown.

It will be seen that the basic principle behind the disposal of Crown Land is that the maximum use shall be made of it either industrially, or for the provision of the greatest possible amount of living space. Where it is not possible to dispose of land immediately, because public services are not yet avail- able or where a site is reserved for some future purpose, which cannot be implemented until later, the land is not "held out of use" but is granted on a temporary annual licence. Some 6,000 such licences for land are in current issue and this parti- An cularly facilitates the development of small industries. annual revenue approaching $3,000,000 is obtained from these licences.

the

New development programmes generally involve resumption of small agricultural lots and in general it is the policy of Government to pay cash compensation for such resumptions, although in certain circumstances other land is granted in exchange. Most of these agricultural lots are used for market gardening and are situated in the remoter parts of

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