SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Issue LI, 3 February 1920, Page 7

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT.

LATEST FIGURES. XHIKTEEX MILLIONS SPENT. FUTURE LAND SUPPLY. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star/) WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister of Lands, in supplying details of the operation of the "discharged soldiers' settlement scheme to the end of December, shows that 4,644 men had been settled on 1,477,293 acres at an outlay of £9,082,210. Adding to this amount the sum of £2,666,(585 advanced to 4,373 men to acquire urban aad suburban dwellings, the total cost of financing the 9,117 men who have been assisted under the Act amounts to £11,748,895. To this has to he added the i-ost of 57 private estates which have been purchased and are being prepared for future settlement, viz., £1,811,314, so that the settlement of our soldiers has already involved an outlay of no less than £13,51i0,205>. -'There is still no sign of the work decreasing/ , added the Minister, " but I have no doubt that after the next month or two a gradual falling ofif will take place, as practically the whole of the men have now returned. It is quite evident, however, that, there is a large number of men who, although repatriated in their former avocations, are desirous of going on the land, and are competitors at diecharged soldiers' land ballots. I believe some time will elapse before the whole of these men are settled-

"At the end of the year we had ready for immediate selection 130,807 acres, which includes lands advertised in the Crown Lands Guide, and land offered by fcallot during January. During February 92,344 acres will "be offered by ballot. Land at present being prepared for settlement totals 099,000 acres, -which includes 57 private estates, comprising 179,270 acres purchased for soldiers. The majority of these estates will come into the possession of the Government in March next. Xo time is to be lost in offering them for selection. The Minister stated that men specially selected for their knowledge of stock and fanning were working in every district, inspecting soldier settlers' operations, reporting and, advising. Where interest was in arrear it was usually owing to men taking up land at the wrong season of the year, causing them to lose the profits of one season. In such cases interest could be snspended for three years, and cither added to the capital account, paid off by instalment, or, in exceptional cases, remitted altogether.

He regarded'as excellent the response of the large landowners to ihe circular inviting them to place areas of land at the soldiers' disposal. Some had provided land at the Government valuation, others carried* out subdivision themselves, while there were also instances of land being given for the use of returned men.

The following shows the progress of soldier settlements to December 31:-v North Auckland: Number of men settled, 635: area, 102.G53 acres; number of men assisted to purchase dwellings, 789; private estates purchased and settled bysoldiers, 6, comprising 5,878 acres providing 75 subdivisions; number. of estates purchased and awaiting subdivision 4, comprising 6.258 acres; area available for immediate selection, 17,858 acres: total area being prepared for selection, 59,554 acres.

■ Auckland: Xumber of men settled 686, area 140,031 acres, number of men assisted to purchase dwellings 167, number of private estates purchased and settled br soldiers 22, comprising 31,804 acres, providing 296 subdivisions, number of estates purchased and awaiting subdivision 5, comprising 33,415 acres, area available for immediate selection 11,732 acres, total area being prepared for selection 65.179 acres.