UNDEVELOPED LANDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 255, 14 August 1929, Page 3

UNDEVELOPED LANDS

PROSPECTS OF SUCCESS. SETTLERS MUST BE FINANCED. (Special to the “Guardian.”) V> UiOa, August 13. Details are given in the annual report on Crown land settlement oi the plans adopted to develop areas hitherto untouched, following a conference of Crown Lands Commissioners which reviewed the whole land settlement question. These officials were requested by the Minister of Lands to ’select areas of undeveloped Crown j lands suitable for subdivision in their districts, and carry out the necessary .surveys, so that settlement might be ; proceeded with if Parliament approved 'of -the provision oi the necessary j finance. At the present time the De- ' partment has no express authority to | expend funds in preparing Crown 1 lands for occupation or in making advances to settlers for the improvements required in the initial stages of breaking in their holdings, and it is desired to improve the position in that respect. “It is considered,” adds the report, “that there are in some districts large areas of unimproved land, mostly pumice and gum country, which could be profitably occupied now that the value of top-dressing for that class of land is becoming more fully understood. Most of it is land requiring fairly clc6© settlement so as to allow of the intensive farming of every section, and it is hoped that, as a result ■of special investigations, several blocks 'suitable for group settlement will be found. A topographical survey of a block in the Taupo-Rotorua district is being undertaken by the Department. When the survey has been completed .the area will be developed for settleI ment to a certain extent before being I opened for selection, and it is hoped |to proceed on similar lines with blocks jin other parts of the Dominion. This . will enable the incoming tenant to j obtain some return from liis land from jtlie beginning, and he will then be in I a better position to proceed with the improvement of the remainder of his section. The land concerned is at present in fern and scrub, andji good deal is ploughable country. Tlie success of 'the scheme will also largely depend : upon suitable finance being provided to assist settlers in their farming operations ” '“““““Krming Capital. Another reference to the necessity for providing some initial capital for | those taking up Crown lands appears iin the same report, which points out that, in throwing open areas for selection last year* it has again been found that many persons desirous of selecting Crown sections had little or no capital available, and it is, of course, difficult for the Department to place such applicants satisfactorily. Under the existing law, applicants must be in a'position to deposit the first halfyear’s rent or instalment, and they must also satisfy Land Boards that they have a reasonable prospect of being in a position to improve and stock tli© land they wish to select. “Unless, therefore, an applicant possesses a small amount of capital, or is in a position to raise the same, it is not at present possible for the Department to assist liim in his desire to settle on the land,” continues the report. “There are doubtless many men of sound experience who are grievously handicapped by lack of even a small amount of capital, and it may yet be possible to devise some means of assisting these to obtain farms of their own.” The answer to this official suggestion is found in the Budget proposal setting aside five millions fo;- financing settlement apart from land acquisition.