LAND SETTLEMENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 149, 5 April 1930, Page 6

LAND SETTLEMENT

STATE ACTIVITIES. WORK IN UNDEVELOPED AREAS. (Special to the "Guardian."} WELLINGTON, This Day. Information derived from an official source is to the effect that since the passing of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929, in November last, a great deal of work has been accomplished by the Lands Department in the direction of putting into operation an active and vigorous policy of land settlement.

The development has been commenced bv the Crown of an area at Te Kauwlmta in the Waikato, and also of a block of some 2200 acres of pumice land about 14 miles from Rotorua. This development work is under the direction of expert officers of the Department of Agriculture. Other blocks are being inspected with a view to development work being carried out on areas suitable for the purpose. Funds for the roading of the various blocks dealt with will be found from the Lands development Fund, and it is intended as far as possible to provide road facilities ahead of settlement.

With regard generally to undeveloped areas, and particularly those comprising pumice land, it is not proposed that all blocks suitable for settlement shall be either wholly or partially developed by the Crown prior to their being offered for selection. It is intended to throw open a large number of sections to meet the immediate deniand, and to give applicants an opportunity of establishing an asset by their own'labour. These lands will be made available at the earliest possible date. Assistance to Settlers. Settlers taking up unimproved sections will be assisted by means of advances as improvements are effected, and will also receive advice and instruction to aid them in achieving success. It will be possible also for Crown tenants occupying land coming under the designation of unimproved to apply to the Lands Development Board for advances for improvements. Some thirty-eight applications for assistance, amounting in all to £23,335, have already been received, and it is expected that this number will increase very considerably as undeveloped sections are taken up from time to time. The work of making all. suitable lends remaining in the hands of the Crown available for selection has generally been speeded up a great deal. Survey parties have been increased where required 1 , and road location and engineering Avorks actively put in hand where extensive roading is necessary. Smaller Areas: Greater Production.

While it. is intended to utilise the provisions of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929, for the development and settlement of idle Crown lands in all suitable cases, it is at the same time proposed to proceed with the purchase of private estates that can be acquired at prices allowing for successful occupancy under subdivision, and this particular matter has received the close attention of the Dominion Land Purchase Board. Since the Government came into office some 955 offers of properties have been received, the bulk of which have been disposed of in various ways. Ini the majority of cases inspections have.been made, but a number of offers were so obviously unsuitable that inspections of the properties concerned were not arranged. In all some 545 inspections have been made, and 664 offers declined. The number of properties purchased is 33, comprising an area of 53, 840 acres, and involving a total purchase price of £564,089. The total number of subdivisions to be provided for closer settlement is approximately 154. Seven of the purchases mentioned above were arranged under the group settlement system, the area of the properties concerned totalling 2233 acres, the purchase price £66,240, and the number of subdivisions 24. There are also at the present time several other properties Avhich are under consideration. The Land Purchase Board is confident that the purchases so far made are sound with regard to price, quality and general adaptability. Subdivision of Properties.

Ten of the purchased properties have already been offered for selection, particulars being as follow: Moanaroa. Three sections, 997 acres; grain and mixed farming. Welburh—Six sections, 565 acres; dairying. Rockford—Four sections, 1737 acres; dairying and mixed farming. Murrayfield. Two sections, 1076 acres; mixed farming. Tamatea—Seven sections, 977 acres; dairying. Brinklands Three sections, 1120 acres; mixed farming. Anonga—Six sections, 3660 acres; grazing.

Fernhill—Five sections, 1495 acres; dairying. Brvdone — : Two sections, 355 acres; grazing.

Raupo—Four sections, 907 acres; dairying. The following have been subdivided: Wilden—Thirteen sections, 24,005 acres; grazing and mixed farming. Tananui—Nine sections, 1497 acres; dairying, cropping and grazing. Rosebei-ry—Fifteen sections, 3912 acres ; mixed farming.

Clones—Eight .sections, 426 acres; mixed farming. On the Wilden Estate two sections. totalling 7053 acres, have been allotted without competition to former employees in the leaving 11 section's, totalling 16,952 acres, for general application. Interesting Figures. The usual settlement activities of the Department have proceeded as heretofore, and tlie ordinary requirements of land settlement have been met by the offering of Crown lands ; n various districts. During the fifteen months ended on February 28 last some 468,915 acres of Crown lands, (all tenures) were selected in 2212 subdivisions. These selections were divided between permanent and temporary tenures as under:—

Note—The above total includes 190,000 acres of pastoral runs selected on pastoral license. During the same 15 months some 358 tenants holding Crown sections on lease or license acquired the fee simple of their farms. The total purchase money on the granting of freehold title amounted to over £113,000. Tenants on acquiring the freehold are no lopger shown on the Department's books, and are subtracted from the total number of lessees holding lands from the Crown.

Permanent tenures Temporary tenures A;o. of Total area holdings, acres. . 1,536 387,422 676 81,493 2.212 468.915