A RESTRICTED DEMAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 16

A RESTRICTED DEMAND.

CROWN LAND AREAS.

TE WERA BLOCK TO BE

STOCKED.

BIG REDUCTION ON DETERIORATED LAND. (By Telegraph. — Partaunentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. No noteworthy blocks of land were subdivided and offered during the year the bulk of the offerings being scattered forfeited sections throughout the Dominion, says the annual report of the Department of Lands and Survey During the year 456,'590 acres' were selected under all tenures, the numbers of selections being 1711 and the average size of holdings 266 acres. Except for exceptionally good dairying country and open sheep grazing land, the demand for Crown land continues to be restricted, although there was good demand for first-class dairying and sheep country An area of 152,454 acres of Crown settlement and endowment rural lands was opened for selection during the

the total number of holdings being 475. The remaining Crown lands are not at present so attractive as the average Crown lands offered in past years. At present there is a total area of about 519,579 acres of Crown settlement, national endowment, and other lands, open for selection.

Two estates acquired under the Land for Settlements Act were offered during the year—Te Wera settlement in the Gisborne district, and Tupurupuru settlement in the Wellington district. The former settlement, comprising 9285 acres,, was subdivided into eleven sections, in areas ranging from 510 to 1400 acres. No applications were received, although the settlement comprised good healthy country suitable for the purpose for which it was acquired. Doubtless the dearth of applications resulted from unsatisfactory pastoral conditions ruling at the time. Several inquiries have been made for sections in the settlement, but the Government has decided to stock the block and withhold disposal of sections until conditions are more favourable. Increased Production Necessary. ' It would appear that an Increase of new settlement is not such a pressing matter as increased production from lands already occupied. Much land now in occupation is, for various reasons, not being farmed to the fullest extent, and a good deal of the country is decreasing in carrying capacity through inability to carry out necessary improvements. In many cases the areas held arc proving too large for profitable occupation, and means will no doubt be provided in the near future whereby subdivision may be encouraged. In other cases it is necessary to increase holdings that are on the small side, and, so far as Crown tenants are concerned, the Department has already carried out a great deal of work in the direction of allotting additional areas to settlers who have shown that they are capable of working larger farms to advantage. Deteriorated Lands. Operations under the Deteriorated Lands Act, 1925, have continued vigorously, and various district committees have done excellent work. Up to .March, 1927, some 1539 applications were received under the Act. Reports from revaluation committees totalled 620, and 448 cases have been finally dealt with. In 316 cases reductions amounting to £107,184 were made in capital values, and reductions totalling £5837 were effected in annual rental and interest payable. Advances have been made to settlers in suitable cases, and liberal concessions have been granted by way of remissions of rent on condition that improvements are effected. It has sometimes been possible to arrange for concessions on the part of private mortgagees, but in a great many cases relief measures applicable under the provisions of the Act will be seriously retarded in their effect by the unwillingness of mortgagees to reduce their charges. Inquiries are being made with a view to selection of suitable properties in Auckland district for demonstration areas. t The High Price Of Land. "Although it cannot yet be said that land values generally are on a thoroughly satisfactory basis, indications are not wanting that a more reasonable view is being taken by private owners of the value of their estates," says Mr. J. B. Thompson, Land Purchase Controller, in his annual report tabled in the House to-day. "The action taken by the Crown in the revaluation of properties held by discharged soldiers has undoubtedly had a good effect, but a wider realisation is yet needed on the part of many owners and mortgagees of the necessity of writing down land and mortgage values in conformity with the productive capacity of the land. The prices asked for properties offered to the Crown during the year were in many cases too high to permit of favourable consideration, while some properties quite unsuitable for subdivision were placed under offer. Successful subdivision presents many difficulties under prevailing conditions, and can only be accomplished when suitable land can be acquired at prices that will permit of a fair return on the capital outlay, plus the additional charges that are inseparable from the cutting up of estates.