asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the present confused state of the statute law relating to the compulsory acquisition and hiring of land and whether steps will be taken in the near future to consolidate that part of the statute law.

The law relating to the procedure for the compulsory acquisition and hiring of land is certainly complicated and difficult, but its complexities are, for the most part, inherent in the subject and consolidation of the relevant enactments would do little to simplify them. There are at present in force temporary enactments which account for much of the complication and any attempt to simplify the law on this subject would hardly be practicable until they expire. Even then any attempt to simplify the subject would probably be beyond the scope of any consolidation Bill.