asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he is aware that lands vested as far back as November, 1931, have not yet been paid for, and if he will cause instructions to be issued to have such cases wound up as expeditiously as possible, and have payment made to those from whom the lands were acquired.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment for Vested Lands.
I presume that the Deputy's question refers to the interval which may elapse between the issue of land bonds to credit of an estate vested in the Land Commission and the distribution of the bonds to the persons entitled thereto. I would point out, however, that under the provisions of Section 9 of the Land Act, 1931, land bonds to the value of £14,000,000 were issued to the credit of some 5,200 estates in May and November, 1931, and it is obviously impossible to distribute this vast sum without due investigation of the owners' titles. The allocation of the purchase moneys depends on the priority of the respective estates and the clearing of the owners' titles to the satisfaction of the Land Commission examiner. Every effort is being made to effect the examination of title as rapidly as possible, and meanwhile owners are entitled to make application under Section 36 of the Land Act, 1931, that the dividends on land bonds yet undistributed shall be paid to them as they accrue due.