IMPROVING BUSH LANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 222, 18 September 1919, Page 2

IMPROVING BUSH LANDS.

USE OF SOLDIER SETTEEBS. EXPERIMENT IN NORTH AUCKLAND (By Telegraph. —Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Last week Mr. Vernon Reed asked the Minister of Lands if he would carry out improvements in bush and other unimproved land by using the co-operative work of soldier settlers. To-day the Hon. D. W. Guthrie made the following statement on the subject: It has hitherto been found that applicants generally i desire to select unimproved holdings, and effect the necessary improvements themselves. It has, however, been decided to develop and open up land for settlement by discharged soldiers on the lines indicated by the member, and the Taka-hue-Whangape block of G853 acres, and Pareokawa block of 3G9S acres, situated in Mangonui county, have been set aside for the purpose. The blocks chiefly comprise bush land, and have been surveyed and subdivided into 27 and 14 sections respectively. They have been held back from selection until sufficient returned soldiers were able and willing to undertake development of land under supervision, the cost being added to the land. Although inquiries were made from time to time no sufficient response has yet been made to enable operations to be commenced. A sum of £3386 has already been authorised for expenditure on the roading of the Takahue-Whangape block, ] and part of the money has been spent quite" recently. However, a few soldiers manifested a desire to select part of the Pareokawa block, and the matter is now under consideration.