LAND SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 8 September 1926, Page 11

LAND SETTLEMENT.

PURCHASES BY THE CROWN. MORE fIEASOXABLE FIGUEES. (By TelegTaph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. Tuesday. Offers received for the sale of land to the Crown under the Land for Settlement Act last year indicated that owners of targe properties, suitable for subdivision, are now willing to offer them at a more reasonable figure, and since the close of the financial year threje estates, totalling 14,252 acre*, have been purchased, while negotiations in respect to two other properties, approximating 20,000 acres, have reached ;i stage that gives a reasonable prospect of successful negotiation. The annual report on the of the Act adds that during the year considerable areas of second and third-class lands, mostly in' localities difficult of access, also have been placed under offer to the Crown, but the Land Purchase Board has not been able to recommend purchase for the reason that 't is of opinion they are entirely unsuited for closer settlement, being only suitable for . holding in comparatively large areas by those having capital available to work them, [t is considered that in purely sheep grazing land, of lowgrade fattening capacity, a minimum of from inOfl to 1300 acres is required to assure a reasonable living for a family, for the reason that with such land there ls a strong tendency towards reversion to manuka and native grasses every few years, although for many years such lands have been successfully farmed by capable men. in areas of 2500 acres and upwards. Recent investigations under discharged soldiers revaluation have gone to show that this type of land cannot be settled successfully in small areas, unless it is in close proximity to good transportation facilities, which will permit of the use of lirue and other topdressing mixtures at the lowest possible prices.