SMALL FARMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 253, 7 August 1941, Page 3

SMALL FARMS.

THE DEVELOPMENT SCHEME. BOARD CONTROLS' 16.000 ACRES (S'p.) AYEiLLINGTON, August 6. At the end of the last finanflia! year land under the control of the Small Farms Board, acquired for settlement under the Small Farms Act, reached ,a new total of 160,010 acres. .During the year the heard took over an ad ditiona 1 19,100 acres, according to figures given in the annual PublicWorks Statement. The statement says that the Lands and Survey Department, operating through the Small Farms Board, continued' with the development and farming of the many areas acquired for settlement under the Small Farms Act, 1923-33, and in addition, took over a further 19,100 acres. At March 31 .the area under the hoard’s control totalled 100,610 acres.

The expenditure for the year on improvements (wages and , materials), stock, and chattels totalled 6572,662. and the cmlits in-aid were 6259.553. The good progress made with the development of the older Flocks resulted in a change of routine farming, ami made possible the release without ioplacemont of ai considerable number of workmen. At the beginning of the year the number of men employed was 1101. bill this was gradually reduced to 721 at March 31: A decision had been made by 1 lie Government to finance soldier settlement from this vote, and the necessary statutory provisions were embodied in- the* Small Farms Amendment Act, 19-10.