THE "HOMESTEAD SYSTEM"

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 223, 19 September 1919, Page 7

THE "HOMESTEAD SYSTEM"

FOR PtTMICE, KATTKI, AND BTJSHXANDS. SOME XECESSARY MODIFICATIONS. LARGE AREAS AVAILABLE. The announwment of the Hon. Minister oi Lands last night that there will be a. revers:on to the old homestead system that was introduced in 18S5 is not being taken too literally by the people >n Auckland interested "in "the developof Crown Lands or the policy of the Government therewith, because from tne information which they were willing to pa.se on to the "Star" they consider many modifications of the old Act will be necessary. The '"homestead systemwas applied to Auckland, Weetland. and Otago, but principally to the Northern province, where between ISSS and IS!£ -6,092 acres were made available to ■Mh settlers. The successful applicants received a free grant of Crown Land limited to 75 acres of second-class and SO acres of fttst-clase. They had to live on this for five years, and during j t]rat time to cultivate at least a third ' of it, or a fifth if it were bush, and also Ito bmld a house. But there was no subsidising system. The Hauraki pastoral lease of to-day is praetieallv the ■same thing as this old -'homestead" system' , except that rents have to be paid. A -MILLION ACRES. A "Star" man was told this morning that the idea of the resuscitation of the old system \vas to allow free selection of the large areas of what ie to-day considered to be unprofitable land, and it was thought that by a judicious system ot free selection the Land Board will be able to deal with these acres, which are mostly pumice lands in the South Auckland district, and kauri gum and bush lands in the North. These lands require special treatment, and according to the informant they may also req-aire a special system of subsidies to help the settler to make the land productive. There might also be areas of bush land that it would be advisable to bring under the same system. SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS. Probably about a million acres of the pumice land in the South will be available for this revivified scheme of settlement, as well a-3 the well-known gum lands of tlie northern peninsula, and some fairly la.rge tracts of bu;!i in different parts oi the province. It is apparent that the scheme will be made to cover second-grade lands principally, but several well-informed gentlemen point out that the amendments to the old Act of ISSS will necessarily include an extension of the maximum area available to each homesteader, and also a comparatively generous subsidy system without which it would be unwise to put men on this interior land, which t-oldier settlers cannot be expected to work and improve without financial assistance,/ whereas with the grant plus monetary! aid they would have-a better chance than under any scheme whereby the acres they get aro costing- them big money. In the view of yet another gentleman safeguards will have to he provided against speculation, which will be one of the most difficult problems created by the rejuvenation and modification ot the old homestead lair. CONDITIONS OF OCCUPATION. The conditions of occupation for the homestead system, under the Lands Act, IS3.\ provide that the area allowed to be selected by each person, IS years of age and upwards, shall be 50 acres of first-class land and 75 acres of secondclass land, and that allowed each person under IS years of age 20 acres of firstclass land* and 30 acres of seconu-class land. This is subject to the provision that the total i|iiantity to be selected by any one family or number of persons occupying the one household shall not exceed "200 acres of first-class land, or 300 acres of pi'cond-class land. Within six months, and twelve months in the case of bush land, after the selection ha.s been approved by the board, the selector shall commence to reside on his ; selection, and shall reside there continu--1 ouslv for five years from tlie date of approval. A permanent dvvellinghouse shall be erected within IS months of the date of approval. In each year there must be brought under cultivation onef.fteentb of tlie area, if open land, and one-twenty-fifth if bush land, so that lat the end of the term of five years onethird of the selection of open land or I one-fifth of thp selection of bush land i ! will be under cultivation. Non-perform-j ance of any of these conditions will render the selection void, and the right to all improvements will be forfeited. Provided the selector has complied with [the conditions a grant will be issued at the end of the five years as follows: — under 30 acres, £0: from 30 to 50 acres, ! inclusive 3/6 per acre, but not less than ! €G; 50 to 100 acres, 3/ per acre, but 'not less than fS 13/; 100 to 200 acres, i 2/6 per acre, but not less than £15; 200 to 300 acres. 2/ per acre, but not le=e than £2.">. In respect of soldier settlement the land thrown open for selection to datej in the North totals 12,883 acres, -while under the heading of land available and suitable for discharged soldiers, not yet offered, there are still some (i(i,474 acre:, making a total of 70,:i.j!> acres.